Exploring strategies used by VLSAs to address intimate partner violence in Rubaga Division Kampala District

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a public health and social policy challenge globally and regionally. In Uganda, the magnitude of IPV is high, with gender inequality and poverty as key drivers leading to long term health, social and economic challenges. This study explored the potential of integrating IPV prevention content into the regular activities of the existing countrywide mechanism of Village Loans and Savings Associations (VLSAs) for sustainable prevention – addressing the two key drivers simultaneously. Qualitative methodology was used to explore the extent to which VLSAs that had been exposed to IPV content in Kampala District had successfully integrated this content into their poverty alleviation operations. The study focused on the barriers to integration and the reported effect of successful integration. VLSAs were found to present a potential mechanism for IPV prevention, as long as enablers and barriers of integration across the social ecology (individual, interpersonal, community and macro-factors) were addressed. At individual level, leaders’ attitudes especially the VLSA chairpersons and community leaders were a significant enabler/barrier of integration. At interpersonal and community level, the pre-existing presence of IPV prevention NGOs in the community influenced positive integration, while prevailing social norms and the weak implementation and awareness of law at macro-level acted as barriers to integration. Working with VLSA would require specific strategies to bring leaders on board and engage men specifically as they are not predominantly part of these associations but significant enablers/barriers. Specific policy revisions that formalise and regulate VLSA operations would need to be taken into consideration as well as creating synergies between community based and commercial offices at district level and inclusion at national level in the GBV reference Group Coordinating Mechanisms. This explorative study presents potential for further in-depth research for a scalable approach.