Community mobilisation to prevent violence against women and girls in eastern India through participatory learning and action with women’s groups facilitated by accredited social health activists: a before-and-after pilot study

The document presents a study focused on preventing violence against women and girls in rural Jharkhand, India, through community mobilization efforts. Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) facilitated participatory learning and action (PLA) meetings with women’s groups in 22 villages. The intervention aimed to shift local norms around violence and improve support for survivors, while also providing access to counseling services.

The research revealed that violence against women is prevalent, with a significant number of women experiencing physical, emotional, or sexual violence, especially from spouses. The participatory approach allowed women to identify priority issues, such as domestic violence, early marriage, and gender-based discrimination. Through discussions and storytelling, the groups worked together to analyze the root causes of violence and develop strategies to address them. The ASHAs helped facilitate these conversations and provided information about legal, health, and police services available to survivors.

Results showed a marked reduction in the acceptability of violence and the prevalence of emotional and physical abuse after the intervention. More women sought help when facing violence, indicating that the initiative successfully encouraged community members to confront these issues more openly. Although challenges remained, including a low rate of seeking formal help from the police or legal systems, the project demonstrated the potential of community-driven efforts to address deep-seated social norms and practices related to violence against women.

Overall, the study supports further implementation of such community mobilization programs, with the potential to expand through the National Health Mission and scale similar interventions to other rural areas in India. The intervention demonstrated that grassroots efforts, when combined with support from health workers and local governance, can be a vital part of addressing violence against women and girls.