Evidence Using quantitative prevalence indicators to determine whether or not a program has reduced levels of VAW is essentially the ultimate aim for VAW prevention programs. However, using them requires specific skills and resources.
If you are considering using prevalence indicators, keep in mind the following:
- Collecting prevalence data on violence requires expert skills, specialist training and clear protocols. Including questions in surveys to collect prevalence data without these in place risks retraumatising survivors and potentially causing further harm. However, there is expertise available on how to collect prevalence data in ways that are as safe and ethical as possible. It is also important to remember that RCTs are not the only way to evaluate changes in prevalence, other approaches can be used too, including more simple baseline and endline evaluations.
- Data collected on women’s experience or men’s perpetration of violence often suffers from significant underreporting. This means it can be difficult to rely on the figures generated and efforts need to be made to reduce underreporting, for example by guaranteeing and maintaining confidentiality, putting participants at ease and only using skilled enumerators.
- Interpretation of prevalence data over time can be challenging. For example, survey data which shows an increase in women reporting violence may point to an actual increase in violence. However, the same data may actually indicate that women are now better able to recognise what constitutes violence and feel greater confidence in speaking about it. In this case, there may be no change in the actual levels of violence – or even a decrease. This means the same data could suggest either a positive or negative impact based on different interpretations. This is one reason why collecting complementary qualitative data can help to unpack what is happening.
To note:
In some contexts it may be too risky to collect data on the prevalence of violence. However, there is no hard and fast rule on this. It is important to discuss the potential risks and benefits of collecting prevalence data with partners working in the local context so the right
decisions can be made.
Additionally, you will need to consider what type(s) of prevention your program is focused on achieving and ensure this is reflected in the indicators you select. For example, is your program designed to:
Prevent violence from happening in the first place (primary)
Prevent violence from happening again or escalating (secondary)
Prevent the long-term impacts of violence (tertiary)
