Bangladesh

Project: Community-based prevention of domestic violence against women

The project will assess the effectiveness of a community-based intervention for the prevention of widespread domestic violence against women among Bengali three ethnic communities in rural Bangladesh.

Facts about the project

Title
Community-based prevention of domestic violence against women: A cross-cultural study among Bengali, Garo, and Santal, ethnic communities in rural Bangladesh.
Project leader

Rabiul Karim, Postdoctoral Fellow, Linnaeus University
Other project members
Professor Katarina Swahnberg, Linnaeus University
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University, University of Rajshahi
Financier
The Swedish Research Council
Timetable
01 Jan 2019 - 31 Dec 2021
Subject
 (Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University and Department of Social Work, University of Rajshahi)

More about the project

The project will assess the effectiveness of a community-based intervention for the prevention of domestic violence against women among indigenous (Adivasi) Garo and Santal as well as mainstream Bengali communities in rural Bangladesh.

In Bangladesh, 70% of married women experience physical or sexual violence from the husband. 7 out of 10 women also believe that the husband under certain circumstances have got the right to beat their wives, for example if she doesn’t obey him. At the same time, previous studies have shown that women’s awareness, level of education and marital gender equality can protect against domestic violence. Domestic violence prevention is under-prioritized in Bangladesh. Post domestic violence supports are also confined to a few urban areas targeting the mainstream population, though there are also many ethnic minorities. This study will examine the efficiency of a community-based domestic violence prevention intervention among mainstream Bengali as well as ethnic minority Garo and Santal communities in the rural area. Women’s position differs between these groups.

The study will be conducted in 24 communities – eight from each ethnicities. In the beginning of 2019, a base-line survey will be conducted to examine the extent of different types of violence, attitudes towards violence, women’s rights, awareness of laws and support groups. After the survey, a community-based intervention will follow with purpose to raise awareness among men and competence development among women.

The project will be carried out in the villages in collaboration with the domestic violence prevention research team at the Department of Social Work, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The project will also be conducted in collaboration with local organizations and by involving local leaders such as teachers and local councils.
The results will increase knowledge of how domestic violence can be prevented in lower- or middle-income countries. The research can contribute to capacity building locally and increased gender equality and increased effectiveness of support efforts nationally.

The project is part of the research of the research group Domestic Violence Prevention Research Team at the Department of Social Work, University of Rajshahi in Bangladesh.