Violence against women and girls remains a widespread public health and human rights concern globally and in Kenya, with many women experiencing intimate partner violence (KNBS, 2023). While prevention programs are urgently needed, their availability remains limited.
Through the What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls initiative, we introduce Imarisha Mahusiano (IM), a couples-based intervention designed to foster healthier and more respectful relationships. IM is an adaptation of Rwanda’s successful Indashyikirwa program, tailored to the Kenyan context.
The intervention is funded through the global WhatWorks to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls initiative (WhatWorks) funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Implemented in partnership with JHU, Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW Kenya), and Agency for Empowerment of Pastoralists (AFEOP)
Counties implemented
Meru and Tharaka Nithi
Broad objective
To assess the impact of couples-based Imarisha Mahusiano (IM) programming, with a quasi-experimental trial examining radio messaging diffusion via both passive radio listening as well as in radio community discussion groups
Specific Objectives
- To determine the impact of the couples-based Imarisha Mahusiano (IM) intervention on gender equity, healthy conflict resolution, and IPV among couples receiving the intervention compared to those in the delayed control group, using an RCT design
- To determine the effect of radio listening (passive diffusion and in community discussion/listening groups) on community-level gender equity, non-violent attitudes, and IPV at a household level among households exposed to radio programming within the context of a couples-based IM intervention, using a panel survey design to measure outcomes at midline and endline
- Describe implementation parameters, scale up, and sustainability of programmatic implementation models, including moving to the CDG model (tested with secondary embedded contrasts and qualitative data collection)
