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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Rape prevention through empowerment of adolescent girls
Pediatrics, Volume 133, No. 5, Year 2014
Notification
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Description
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Sexual assault is a major cause of injury, unplanned pregnancy, HIV infection, and mental health problems worldwide. In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, sexual assault has reached epidemic proportions. This study evaluated the efficacy of an empowerment and self-defense intervention for adolescent girls to decrease the incidence of sexual assault and harassment in Nairobi's large informal settlements. METHODS: A prospective cohort of 1978 adolescents from 4 neighborhoods near Nairobi were taught empowerment, deescalation, and selfdefense skills in six 2-hour sessions. The standard-of-care (SOC) group (n = 428) received a life skills class. Self-reported, anonymous survey data were collected at baseline and 10.5 months after intervention. RESULTS: Annual sexual assault rates decreased from 17.9/100 personyears at baseline to 11.1 at follow-up (rate ratio = 1.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-1.86; P , .001); there was no significant change in the SOC group (14.3 to 14.0, rate ratio = 1.02; 95% CI, 0.67-1.57, P = .92). Sexual assault disclosure in the intervention group increased from 56% to 75% (P = .006), compared with a constant incidence of disclosure (53%) in the SOC group. The majority (52.3%) of adolescents in the intervention group reported using skills learned to stop an assault. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention decreased sexual assault rates among adolescent girls in Kenya. The intervention was also associated with an increase in the disclosure of assaults, thereby enabling survivors to seek care and support and possibly leading to the identification and prosecution of perpetrators. This model should be adaptable to other settings both in Africa and globally. Copyright © 2014 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Authors & Co-Authors
Sarnquist, Clea C.
United States, Stanford
Stanford University School of Medicine
Omondi, Benjamin
Kenya, Nairobi
Ujamaa-africa
Sinclair, Jake
United States, Walnut Creek
John Muir Medical Center
United States, San Francisco
Ujamaa United States of America
Gitau, Carolinah
Kenya, Nairobi
Ujamaa-africa
Paiva, Lee
United States, San Francisco
No Means no Worldwide
Mulinge, Munyae Masai
United States, San Diego
Alliant International University
Cornfield, David N.
United States, Stanford
Stanford University School of Medicine
Maldonado, Yvonne Aida
United States, Stanford
Stanford University School of Medicine
Statistics
Citations: 104
Authors: 8
Affiliations: 6
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1542/peds.2013-3414
ISSN:
00314005
e-ISSN:
10984275
Research Areas
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Mental Health
Sexual And Reproductive Health
Violence And Injury
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Cross Sectional Study
Cohort Study
Study Approach
Quantitative
Study Locations
Kenya
Participants Gender
Female