1 Concept Paper: Violence Against Women In Low To Middle-Income West African

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Concept Paper: Violence Against Women In Low To Middle-Income West African Countries And Best Practices In Addressing Intimate Partner Violence.
Maissa Signate

Background Information
The perpetration of violent acts against women is a critical problem that prevails in West Africa. It is reported that many murders, medical problems, and reproductive health challenges that women in the region face are triggered by the violent actions of their intimate partners (Daye, 2021). Intimate partner violence refers to the abusive acts individuals take against those they have romantic interactions with. These unwanted actions can either be sexual, physical, or psychological. Observed evidence indicates that the most prevalent form of violent acts against women in West Africa is physical violence. Physical evidence includes the use of force to harm individuals through actions such as shoving them, choking, or using a weapon to hurt them. Studies of patterns of violence in the region indicate that 60% of all the reported violence cases are usually from individuals belonging to low-income earning families (Tenkorang et al., 2013). Interestingly, the perpetration of violent acts against women is encouraged in the society and government institutions due to the failure to prosecute violent acts that individuals commit against their intimate partners, hence making the actions a norm in society (Tenkorang et al., 2013). Another factor that contributes to the increased prevalence of partner violence is the perception that religions make toward marriage. Religious teachings and practices often compel women to endure violence from their abusive partners as a sign of humility and perseverance. In addition, victims cannot report abusive relationships, and the atrocious act committed against them because they lack technological tools such as computers or mobile devices. Due to their poor economic status, they cannot afford to purchase these tools which are fairly costly. Thus, there is a need to develop more effective approaches that employ multidimensional strategies to reach the low and middle-income populations who are most affected by violent acts.  
 Methods
Several authors have explored the issue of gender-based violence in West Africa. The information they have articulated in their write-ups will be fundamental in contextualizing the causes of the escalating trends of individuals acting violently towards their intimate partners among the low and middle-income population. A literature review will be conducted to identify the health promotion programs that have been initiated in West Africa that effectively measure the prevalence of intimate partner violence and offer workable solutions to them. The information compiled during the review will aid in determining the most effective and beneficial health promotion programs that can be applied in West Africa, particularly in low and middle-income communities. 
The inclusion criteria used while selecting the article include recent articles containing updated information on the topic. These articles were published within the past five years. The chosen articles are written in English and peer-reviewed to ensure that they contain reliable information. On the other hand, the exclusion criteria included articles published many years ago; hence they could contain unreliable content.
 Best Practice Programs
According to Tenkorang et al. (2013), education is the most appropriate practice to end intimate partner violence. Education for men and women regarding how they can prevent future intimate partner violence and the steps they can take is important in empowering victims and discontinuing the beliefs regarding gender-based violence in low and middle-income communities (UN Women, 2020). Tenkorang et al. (2013) observe that community-based education through local religious gatherings and local civil meetings has effectively alleviated intimate partner violence in poor Ghanaian villages. Further, assistance programs where victims are provided with mental counseling and legal advice have proven essential in empowering poor women to report cases and move away from their abusers.
 

References
Ndiaye, N. A. (2021). Gender-Based Violence in West Africa: The Cases of Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Retrieved on 24 April 2022, from https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/fes-pscc/18242.pdf
Tenkorang, E. Y., Owusu, A. Y., Yeboah, E. H., & Bannerman, R. (2013). Factors influencing domestic and marital violence against women in Ghana. Journal of Family Violence, 28(8), 771-781.
UN Women. (2020). Take action: 10 Ways you can help end violence against women, even during a pandemic. Retrieved on 24 April 2022, from https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/11/compilation-take-action-to-help-end-violence-against-women