HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2006.095521v1 97/10/1794    most recent Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kim, J. C. Articles by Pronyk, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kim, J. C. Articles by Pronyk, P. Related Collections Gender HIV/AIDS Injury/Emergency Care/Violence Prevention Socioeconomic Factors Women's Health

Julia C. Kim, MSc, FRCP, Charlotte H. Watts, PhD, James R. Hargreaves, PhD, Luceth X. Ndhlovu, MPH, Godfrey Phetla, MA, Linda A. Morison, MA, Joanna Busza, MSc, John D.H. Porter, MD, MPH and Paul Pronyk, PhD, FRCP

Julia C. Kim, Luceth X. Ndhlovu, Godfrey Phetla, and Paul Pronyk are with the Rural AIDS and Development Action Research Programme, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Acornhoek, South Africa. Julia C. Kim, Paul Pronyk, Charlotte H. Watts, James R. Hargreaves, Linda A. Morison, Joanna Busza, and John D.H. Porter are with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, England.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Julia C. Kim, RADAR PO Box 2, Acornhoek, 1360, South Africa (e-mail: jkim{at}agincourt.co.za).

Objectives. We sought to obtain evidence about the scope of women’s empowerment and the mechanisms underlying the significant reduction in intimate partner violence documented by the Intervention With Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity (IMAGE) cluster-randomized trial in rural South Africa.

Methods. The IMAGE intervention combined a microfinance program with participatory training on understanding HIV infection, gender norms, domestic violence, and sexuality. Outcome measures included past year’s experience of intimate partner violence and 9 indicators of women’s empowerment. Qualitative data about changes occurring within intimate relationships, loan groups, and the community were also collected.

Results. After 2 years, the risk of past-year physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner was reduced by more than half (adjusted risk ratio=0.45; 95% confidence interval=0.23, 0.91). Improvements in all 9 indicators of empowerment were observed. Reductions in violence resulted from a range of responses enabling women to challenge the acceptability of violence, expect and receive better treatment from partners, leave abusive relationships, and raise public awareness about intimate partner violence.

Conclusions. Our findings, both qualitative and quantitative, indicate that economic and social empowerment of women can contribute to reductions in intimate partner violence.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. M. Pronyk, J. R. Hargreaves, and J. Morduch Microfinance Programs and Better Health: Prospects for Sub-Saharan Africa JAMA, October 24, 2007; 298(16): 1925 - 1927. [Full Text] [PDF]