Addressing School-related Gender-based Violence as Part of the Keeping Girls in School Initiative in Zambia

NCT05839457 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: p151451
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 6,000
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of this mixed-methods study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based safe-space program delivered to secondary school students in Zambia. The quantitative component of the study uses a randomized controlled trial to measure changes in students' experience of school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), attitudes towards gender and SRGBV, socio-emotional well-being, and school climate, among other outcomes. Meanwhile, the qualitative component of the study aims to understand the prevailing norms around SRGBV in schools, the perception of the intervention and its impact, and the potential mechanisms through which the intervention generates its outcomes.

Conditions

Gender-based Violence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Experience of any SRGBV, past two weeks

  A binary variable of self-reported experience of any SRGBV in the past two weeks

  two weeks prior to the endline survey

• Experience of any SRGBV, past school term

  A binary variable of self-reported experience of any SRGBV in the past school term

  ~4 months (Term 3 of School Year 2023)

• Attitudes towards gender roles and SRGBV (adolescents)

  A normalized index based on 16 items that measure attitudes towards gender roles, SRGBV, and support to victims

  ~4 months post-intervention

• School climate

  A composite score based on 16 statements about aspects of school climate and student-teacher interactions

  ~4 months post-intervention

• Socio-emotional well-being

  A normalized index based on 3 scales related to subjective well-being: perceived social support; perceived safety; and anxiety.

  ~4 months post-intervention

Secondary Outcomes (27)

• Knowledge of SRGBV

  ~4 months post-intervention

• School absenteeism

  one month prior to the endline survey

• School enrollment

  ~4 months post-intervention

• General self-efficacy

  ~4 months post-intervention

• Assertive communication

  ~4 months post-intervention

Other Outcomes (3)

• Teachers' knowledge of SRGBV

  ~4 months post-intervention

• Teachers' assessment of school climate

  ~4 months post-intervention

• Attitudes towards gender roles and SRGBV (teachers)

  ~4 months post-intervention

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Empowerment Pilot

Behavioral: Empowerment Pilot

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Empowerment Pilot BEHAVIORAL

The Empowerment Pilot is a school-based program aimed to raise awareness and change attitudes around SRGBV among students and teachers and promote gender equality. This intervention includes training provided by Teacher Mentors to other teachers in school, learning sessions delivered via safe spaces for student learners, and guidance for engaging parent-teacher committees.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 10 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Students enrolled in grades 8 - 11 of secondary schools in the 2023 school year at the start of the intervention

Sponsors & Collaborators

• World Bank: lead

Study Sites (1)

secondary schools in Kasama, Mpongwe, and Zambezi districts

Lusaka, Zambia

Location

Study Officials

• Wei Chang

  World Bank

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Economist

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 16, 2023
• First Posted: May 3, 2023
• Study Start: May 8, 2023
• Primary Completion: April 7, 2024
• Study Completion: April 7, 2024
• Last Updated: July 24, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ZA (1)