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Effect of Gender-Based Violence Prevention Programmes on Knowledge of Gender-Based Violence among Women in Nigeria

Abstract

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a significant public health, human rights, and social concern in Nigeria, affecting women's physical, psychological, sexual, and reproductive health and well-being. Women may experience intimate partner violence, sexual violence, physical violence, emotional or psychological abuse, economic abuse, and other forms of violence. Limited knowledge of the different forms of GBV, warning signs, available support services, reporting mechanisms, legal protections, and prevention strategies may prevent women from recognizing abusive situations and seeking appropriate assistance. GBV prevention programmes provide an opportunity to improve women's knowledge through health education, community sensitization, awareness campaigns, counselling, empowerment activities, and information about available protection and support services. However, cultural beliefs, stigma, fear of retaliation, social norms, limited access to information, and inadequate coverage of prevention programmes may limit their effectiveness. Against this background, this study investigates the effect of gender-based violence prevention programmes on knowledge of gender-based violence among women in Nigeria. The study will be anchored on the Social Ecological Model, Health Belief Model, and Social Cognitive Theory. The Social Ecological Model explains GBV through interacting individual, relationship, community, institutional, and societal factors and recognizes the importance of interventions operating at multiple levels. The Health Belief Model explains how women's perceptions of the risks and consequences of GBV, perceived benefits of prevention and help-seeking, perceived barriers, and cues to action may influence their knowledge and responses to violence. Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the roles of observational learning, self-efficacy, social support, knowledge, and environmental influences in developing women's capacity to recognize, prevent, and respond to GBV. Collectively, these theoretical perspectives provide a suitable framework for explaining how GBV prevention programmes may influence knowledge of gender-based violence among women in Nigeria. The study will adopt a quantitative analytical cross-sectional or quasi-experimental research design. The study population will comprise women aged 18 years and above residing in selected communities across Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique will be used to select states, local government areas, communities, households, and eligible women. GBV prevention programmes will be assessed using indicators such as exposure to GBV awareness campaigns, participation in community sensitization activities, health education sessions, counselling, information on GBV prevention, knowledge of available support services, information on reporting mechanisms, awareness of relevant laws and protections, frequency of programme activities, programme accessibility, and involvement of community organizations or healthcare workers. Knowledge of GBV will be assessed using indicators such as recognition of physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, and economic violence; awareness of warning signs; understanding of women's rights; knowledge of prevention strategies; awareness of available health, psychosocial, legal, and social support services; knowledge of reporting mechanisms; and awareness of appropriate responses to GBV. Data will be collected using structured questionnaires, validated GBV knowledge assessment tools where appropriate, programme attendance records, community health education records, and relevant programme documents. Descriptive statistics will be used to summarize participants' characteristics, exposure to prevention programmes, and levels of GBV knowledge. Inferential statistical techniques, including chi-square tests, t-tests, correlation analysis, and logistic or multiple regression analysis where appropriate, will be used to determine the effect of GBV prevention programmes on knowledge of gender-based violence. Where a quasi-experimental design is adopted, knowledge scores before and after exposure to structured GBV prevention programmes may be compared, while relevant demographic, socioeconomic, educational, and community-level factors are appropriately controlled. Diagnostic tests will also be conducted to assess the reliability, validity, and robustness of the findings. The study is expected to find that GBV prevention programmes have a significant positive effect on knowledge of gender-based violence among women in Nigeria. Women exposed to structured and sustained GBV prevention programmes are expected to demonstrate greater knowledge of different forms of violence, warning signs, prevention strategies, available support services, reporting mechanisms, and relevant legal protections than women with limited or no exposure to such programmes. Community-based education and sensitization may help challenge misconceptions, reduce normalization of violence, improve awareness of women's rights, and increase knowledge of where and how to seek assistance. However, stigma, cultural and social norms, fear of retaliation, misinformation, low literacy, limited programme coverage, and inadequate availability of support services may constrain the effectiveness of prevention programmes. The study therefore expects accessible, culturally appropriate, evidence-based, and community-oriented GBV prevention programmes to contribute significantly to improved knowledge of gender-based violence among women in Nigeria. The study is expected to contribute to the literature on gender-based violence prevention, GBV knowledge, women's health, violence prevention, health education, community sensitization, women's rights, and public health in Nigeria. The findings will provide useful information to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, state ministries and agencies responsible for women and social development, healthcare institutions, community-based organizations, women's organizations, law enforcement agencies, legal aid providers, development partners, and policymakers regarding strategies for strengthening GBV prevention and response. The study will also provide evidence-based recommendations for expanding community-based GBV prevention programmes, strengthening women's health education, improving awareness of support and reporting services, addressing harmful social norms, training healthcare and community workers, strengthening referral pathways, and integrating GBV prevention education into broader women's health and community public health programmes across Nigeria.

Keywords: Gender-based violence prevention programmes, gender-based violence knowledge, women, GBV awareness, violence prevention, women's health, health education, community sensitization, women's rights, Nigeria, public health.