War-related sexual and gender-based violence in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based study
Introduction Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) during armed conflicts has serious ramifications with women and girls disproportionally affected. The impact of the conflict that erupted in November 2020 in Tigray on SGBV is not well documented. This study is aimed at assessing war-related SGBV...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2023-07-01
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| Series: | BMJ Global Health |
| Online Access: | https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/7/e010270.full |
| _version_ | 1797749173980758016 |
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| author | Abraha Woldemichael Akeza Awealom Asgedom Kebede Embaye Gezae Gebrekiros Gebremichael Meles Maru Aregawi Afework Mulugeta Hagos Godefay Mache Tsadik Selome Gezahegn Girmatsion Fisseha Tesfay Gebregzabher Gebrehiwot Mengistu Welday Gebremichael Shishay Wahdey Awol Yemane Legesse Aregawi Gebreyesus Haftom Temesgen Abebe Yibrah Alemayehu Haile Kiros T Berhane |
| author_facet | Abraha Woldemichael Akeza Awealom Asgedom Kebede Embaye Gezae Gebrekiros Gebremichael Meles Maru Aregawi Afework Mulugeta Hagos Godefay Mache Tsadik Selome Gezahegn Girmatsion Fisseha Tesfay Gebregzabher Gebrehiwot Mengistu Welday Gebremichael Shishay Wahdey Awol Yemane Legesse Aregawi Gebreyesus Haftom Temesgen Abebe Yibrah Alemayehu Haile Kiros T Berhane |
| author_sort | Abraha Woldemichael |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) during armed conflicts has serious ramifications with women and girls disproportionally affected. The impact of the conflict that erupted in November 2020 in Tigray on SGBV is not well documented. This study is aimed at assessing war-related SGBV in war-affected Tigray, Ethiopia.Methods A community-based survey was conducted in 52 (out of 84) districts of Tigray, excluding its western zone and some districts bordering Eritrea due to security reasons. Using a two-stage multistage cluster sampling technique, a total of 5171 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) were randomly selected and included in the study. Analysis used weighted descriptive statistics, regression modelling and tests of associations.Results Overall, 43.3% (2241/5171) of women experienced at least one type of gender-based violence. The incidents of sexual, physical and psychological violence, and rape among women of reproductive age were found to be 9.7% (500/5171), 28.6% (1480/5171), 40.4% (2090/5171) and 7.9% (411/5171), respectively. Of the sexual violence survivors, rape accounted for 82.2% (411/500) cases, of which 68.4% (247) reported being gang raped. Young women (aged 15–24 years) were the most affected by sexual violence, 29.2% (146/500). Commonly reported SGBV-related issues were physical trauma, 23.8% (533/2241), sexually transmitted infections, 16.5% (68/411), HIV infection, 2.7% (11/411), unwanted pregnancy, 9.5% (39/411) and depression 19.2% (431/2241). Most survivors (89.7%) did not receive any postviolence medical or psychological support.Conclusions Systemic war-related SGBV was prevalent in Tigray, with gang-rape as the most common form of sexual violence. Immediate medical and psychological care, and long-term rehabilitation and community support for survivors are urgently needed and recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:16:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-77c7dcad759d4b3cbf06567055f3b937 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2059-7908 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T16:16:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Global Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-77c7dcad759d4b3cbf06567055f3b9372023-08-09T03:05:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Global Health2059-79082023-07-018710.1136/bmjgh-2022-010270War-related sexual and gender-based violence in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based studyAbraha Woldemichael0Akeza Awealom Asgedom1Kebede Embaye Gezae2Gebrekiros Gebremichael Meles3Maru Aregawi4Afework Mulugeta5Hagos Godefay6Mache Tsadik7Selome Gezahegn8Girmatsion Fisseha9Tesfay Gebregzabher Gebrehiwot10Mengistu Welday Gebremichael11Shishay Wahdey12Awol Yemane Legesse13Aregawi Gebreyesus14Haftom Temesgen Abebe15Yibrah Alemayehu Haile16Kiros T Berhane17School of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaSchool of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaSchool of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaSchool of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaGlobal Malaria Program, World Health Organization, Geneve, SwitzerlandSchool of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaTigray Health Bureau, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaSchool of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaHennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USASchool of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaEpidemiology, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaDepartment of Midwifery, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaSchool of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaSchool of Medicine, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaSchool of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaSchool of Public Health, Mekelle University College of Health Sciences, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaTigray Health Bureau, Mekelle, Tigray, EthiopiaBiostatistics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USAIntroduction Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) during armed conflicts has serious ramifications with women and girls disproportionally affected. The impact of the conflict that erupted in November 2020 in Tigray on SGBV is not well documented. This study is aimed at assessing war-related SGBV in war-affected Tigray, Ethiopia.Methods A community-based survey was conducted in 52 (out of 84) districts of Tigray, excluding its western zone and some districts bordering Eritrea due to security reasons. Using a two-stage multistage cluster sampling technique, a total of 5171 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) were randomly selected and included in the study. Analysis used weighted descriptive statistics, regression modelling and tests of associations.Results Overall, 43.3% (2241/5171) of women experienced at least one type of gender-based violence. The incidents of sexual, physical and psychological violence, and rape among women of reproductive age were found to be 9.7% (500/5171), 28.6% (1480/5171), 40.4% (2090/5171) and 7.9% (411/5171), respectively. Of the sexual violence survivors, rape accounted for 82.2% (411/500) cases, of which 68.4% (247) reported being gang raped. Young women (aged 15–24 years) were the most affected by sexual violence, 29.2% (146/500). Commonly reported SGBV-related issues were physical trauma, 23.8% (533/2241), sexually transmitted infections, 16.5% (68/411), HIV infection, 2.7% (11/411), unwanted pregnancy, 9.5% (39/411) and depression 19.2% (431/2241). Most survivors (89.7%) did not receive any postviolence medical or psychological support.Conclusions Systemic war-related SGBV was prevalent in Tigray, with gang-rape as the most common form of sexual violence. Immediate medical and psychological care, and long-term rehabilitation and community support for survivors are urgently needed and recommended.https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/7/e010270.full |
| spellingShingle | Abraha Woldemichael Akeza Awealom Asgedom Kebede Embaye Gezae Gebrekiros Gebremichael Meles Maru Aregawi Afework Mulugeta Hagos Godefay Mache Tsadik Selome Gezahegn Girmatsion Fisseha Tesfay Gebregzabher Gebrehiwot Mengistu Welday Gebremichael Shishay Wahdey Awol Yemane Legesse Aregawi Gebreyesus Haftom Temesgen Abebe Yibrah Alemayehu Haile Kiros T Berhane War-related sexual and gender-based violence in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based study BMJ Global Health |
| title | War-related sexual and gender-based violence in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based study |
| title_full | War-related sexual and gender-based violence in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based study |
| title_fullStr | War-related sexual and gender-based violence in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based study |
| title_full_unstemmed | War-related sexual and gender-based violence in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based study |
| title_short | War-related sexual and gender-based violence in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: a community-based study |
| title_sort | war related sexual and gender based violence in tigray northern ethiopia a community based study |
| url | https://gh.bmj.com/content/8/7/e010270.full |
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