INIFIRES: Challenging Intimate Partner Violence Among Young People in Formal and Informal Relationships?in Uganda

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against females is a major public health problem and a violation of victims' human rights. IPV is defined as behaviour by an intimate or ex-intimate partner that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, economic abuse and controlling behaviour such as isolation from family and friends and monitoring movements (WHO, 2021).

Globally, almost one third of ever-partnered women aged 15-49 are subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner (WHO, 2017). In Uganda, over half of married/cohabiting women aged 15-49 report ever experiencing IPV - higher than the global average (UBOS & ICF, 2018). In low- and middle-income countries the prevalence of IPV among married/cohabiting adolescent girls (15-19) and young women (20-24) is higher than for older women (Decker et al., 2014).

In Uganda, adolescent females have four times the risk of IPV compared to women aged 20-24 (Ogbonnaya et al., 2021). Most studies focus on 'married' women, however evidence from high-income countries reveals that IPV is common within informal (dating) adolescent relationships (Leen, 2013). IPV is more prevalent in conflict-affected areas (Garcia-Moreno et al., 2006; Stark et al., 2010), such as the post-conflict region of northern Uganda compared to more peaceful parts of the country (Stark et al., 2010; Ochen 2011, 2016; UBOS, 2012; 2018; Black et al., 2019).

Again, younger women demonstrate higher risk compared to the older generation, despite having improved educational and economic opportunities that are recognised protective factors (Black et al., 2019).

IPV results in adverse impacts for the victims and their children (e.g. serious injuries, death, reproductive health problems [e.g. HIV, other STIs, unplanned pregnancy, miscarriages and pre-term births], mental health problems, intergenerational transmission of violence (Karakurt et al., 2014; Potter et al., 2021; Wong & Mellor, 2013; Wood et al., 2018;).

Long-term psychological and behavioural problems can arise for children exposed to IPV (Bedi & Goddard, 2007) due to experiencing the violence enacted by the perpetrator and being subjected to aggressive parenting by the victims (Decker et al., 2018; Saile et al., 2014).

We propose to conduct participatory research with key community stakeholders and young people to inform the development of a co-created game-based intervention to tackle IPV among young people in Uganda. This will be achieved by:

Determining the prevalence of IPV among young people in formal and informal relationships in conflict-affected and peaceful regions.

Examining the potential risk factors for, drivers and facilitators of IPV among young people and ascertaining whether these differ based on the conflict status of the region or the formal/informal status of the relationship. Exploring the impacts of IPV on victims in the different Ugandan contexts

Co-creating, with young people, community partners and IPV researchers, a prosocial gaming intervention for young people and associated media presence, to address and prevent IPV and to encourage help-seeking for those affected.

Engaging with community partners to use a participatory monitoring and evaluation approach to mobilise the communities to be responsive to IPV among young people, to assess the uptake and impact of the intervention and to ensure its long-term sustainability.

The project will deliver a digital game, playable on mobile phones, with an associated website for young people and their supporters (informal and formal) to prevent and/or ameliorate the impacts of IPV.