Background
Women in Tanzania suffer alarming rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), with detrimental
effects on mental and physical health and wellbeing including an increased risk of HIV infection.
To date, research on IPV has been limited, especially on the effectiveness of prevention efforts that
target structural drivers of IPV in low- and middle-income countries. This purpose of this study is to
provide insight on effective approaches for IPV prevention and contribute to a better understanding
of the interplay between individual knowledge and attitudes of both men and women regarding IPV
and how these influence and are influenced by gender norms at the community level.
Study Design and Study Site
The Together to End Violence Against Women (TEVAW) program implemented by World
Education, Inc./Bantwana (WEI/Bantwana) in Tanzania aims to address intimate partner violence
(IPV) in Karatu District through interpersonal and community level IPV prevention interventions.
Researchers and staff from Boston University’s Center for Global Health and Development and
WEI/Bantwana are conducting a randomized control trial to measure the preliminary effectiveness
of this program in addressing IPV in Karatu District in northern Tanzania.
The baseline study was conducted in nine villages in Karatu District, one of six districts in the
Arusha Region of Tanzania. These villages are receiving services from WEI/Bantwana as a part of a
comprehensive care and support program for vulnerable children and their families. This program
includes savings and lending groups known as LIMCA groups. Women LIMCA group members
receive training on business skills, literacy, IPV and HIV prevention. These groups aim to empower
women participants through savings and credit activities that increase their economic independence
and strengthen social support networks. The groups also aim to improve women’s knowledge about
the physical, mental and emotional harms of IPV on women, men and children. These activities
have been conducted in every village and therefore all LIMCA group members have been exposed
to these issues, including IPV prevention messaging. LIMCA is delivered through volunteer
Economic Empowerment Workers (EEWs) selected by village-level authorities and qualified by
WEI through simple literacy and numeracy testing. Male partners/spouses of women participating
in LIMCA have indirect exposure to the content of the LIMCA groups by virtue of their female
partners’ participation.