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Systematic review of food insecurity and violence against women and girls: Mixed methods findings from low- and middle-income settings

Author

Listed:
  • Abigail M Hatcher
  • Sabrina Page
  • Lele Aletta van Eck
  • Isabelle Pearson
  • Rebecca Fielding-Miller
  • Celine Mazars
  • Heidi Stöckl

Abstract

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a global human rights and public health concern. Food insecurity is a sign of severe poverty, and likely to heighten women’s vulnerability to VAWG and men’s perpetration of it. However, the extent of the association and the multiple pathways between food insecurity and VAWG are not well understood. We systematically assessed peer reviewed quantitative and qualitative literature to explore this in low- and middle-income countries. Fixed effects meta-analysis was used to synthesize quantitative evidence. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. From a search of 732 titles, we identified 23 quantitative and 19 qualitative or mixed-methods peer-reviewed manuscripts. In a meta-analysis of 21 cross-sectional studies with 20,378 participants, food insecurity was associated with doubled odds of reported VAWG (odds ratio [OR] = 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.82–3.10). This finding was consistent for both women’s experience or male perpetration of VAWG. Qualitative and mixed-methods papers offered insight that underlying conditions of inequitable gender norms, economic deprivation, and social isolation frame both food insecurity and VAWG. Food insecurity may trigger survival behaviors due to household stress and lack of meeting expected gender roles, which leads to VAWG. VAWG exposure may lead to food insecurity if women are more impoverished after leaving a violent household. Potential protective factors include financial stability, the involvement of men in VAWG programming, transformation of gender norms, and supporting women to develop new networks and social ties. Strong evidence exists for a relationship between food security and VAWG. Future funding should target causal directions and preventive options through longitudinal and interventional research. Strategies to ensure households have access to sufficient food and safe relationships are urgently needed to prevent VAWG.

Suggested Citation

  • Abigail M Hatcher & Sabrina Page & Lele Aletta van Eck & Isabelle Pearson & Rebecca Fielding-Miller & Celine Mazars & Heidi Stöckl, 2022. "Systematic review of food insecurity and violence against women and girls: Mixed methods findings from low- and middle-income settings," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 2(9), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pgph00:0000479
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000479
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Roy, Shalini & Hidrobo, Melissa & Hoddinott, John F. & Koch, Bastien & Ahmed, Akhter, 2019. "Can transfers and behavior change communication reduce intimate partner violence four years post-program? Experimental evidence from Bangladesh," IFPRI discussion papers 1869, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Roy, Shalini & Hidrobo, Melissa & Hoddinott, John F. & Ahmed, Akhter, 2021. "Transfers, behavior change communication, and intimate partner violence: Post-program evidence from rural Bangladesh," IFPRI book chapters, in: Securing food for all in Bangladesh, chapter 15, pages 549-590, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    3. Monica H. Swahn & LeConté J. Dill & Jane B. Palmier & Rogers Kasirye, 2015. "Girls and Young Women Living in the Slums of Kampala," SAGE Open, , vol. 5(2), pages 21582440155, April.
    4. Ana Maria Buller & Amber Peterman & Meghna Ranganathan & Alexandra Bleile & Melissa Hidrobo & Lori Heise, 2018. "A Mixed-Method Review of Cash Transfers and Intimate Partner Violence in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," The World Bank Research Observer, World Bank, vol. 33(2), pages 218-258.
    5. Ruchira Tabassum Naved & Mahfuz Al Mamun & Kausar Parvin & Samantha Willan & Andrew Gibbs & Marat Yu & Rachel Jewkes, 2018. "Magnitude and correlates of intimate partner violence against female garment workers from selected factories in Bangladesh," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, November.
    6. Kathryn P Derose & Denise D Payán & María Altagracia Fulcar & Sergio Terrero & Ramón Acevedo & Hugo Farías & Kartika Palar, 2017. "Factors contributing to food insecurity among women living with HIV in the Dominican Republic: A qualitative study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, July.
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    1. Uche T. Okpara & Ifeoma Q. Anugwa, 2022. "Harms to Community Food Security Resulting from Gender-Based Violence," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Jenevieve Mannell & Laura J Brown & Esme Jordaan & Abigail Hatcher & Andrew Gibbs, 2024. "The impact of environmental shocks due to climate change on intimate partner violence: A structural equation model of data from 156 countries," PLOS Climate, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(10), pages 1-12, October.
    3. Zelalem Nigussie Azene & Catherine MacPhail & Lisa Gaye Smithers, 2025. "Perinatal intimate partner violence and breastfeeding practices: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 20(2), pages 1-12, February.
    4. Lissandra Amorim Santos & Rafael Pérez-Escamilla & Camilla Christine de Souza Cherol & Aline Alves Ferreira & Rosana Salles-Costa, 2023. "Gender, skin color, and household composition explain inequities in household food insecurity in Brazil," PLOS Global Public Health, Public Library of Science, vol. 3(10), pages 1-21, October.

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