Comparing Economic and Social Interventions to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from Central and Southern Africa

62 Pages Posted: 28 Mar 2011 Last revised: 7 Sep 2024

See all articles by Radha Plumb

Radha Plumb

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Giulia Ferrari

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE)

Date Written: March 2011

Abstract

The empowerment of women within households remains a major issue around the world including in Africa. We have conducted a study in Burundi coupling discussion sessions with microfinancing to determine if they enhance the role of women in decisions regarding household purchases and the reduction of domestic violence. We compare our findings to that from a published study in South Africa that combined discussion sessions on life skills and health on reduction in domestic violence and decisions on economic issues. Both studies used randomized controlled experiments. Both studies show a trend towards increases in household authority, with the Burundi study showing statistical significance. In South Africa there was a large, albeit short lived decrease in domestic violence. In Burundi there was small reduction but trends suggest a longer duration. The effects on overall empowerment are small. These studies suggest that a more sustained use of discussion sessions may result in longer and more sustained economic and social empowerment. Future research could focus on the longer term effects of the use of discussion sessions and investigate how the observed impacts can be sustained in magnitude and duration.

Suggested Citation

Plumb, Radha and Ferrari, Giulia, Comparing Economic and Social Interventions to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence from Central and Southern Africa (March 2011). NBER Working Paper No. w16902, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1795851

Radha Plumb (Contact Author)

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Menlo Park, CA 94025
United States

Giulia Ferrari

London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) ( email )

Houghton Street
London, WC2A 2AE
United Kingdom

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