Authors : N. C. Thompson; C. R. Amadi; S. A. Egbuchu; A. I. Adejumo

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/3p58u7ft

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/44kykjd8

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb392

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Gender-based violence (GBV), specifically violence against women, is a worldwide pandemic. Prevalence is further escalated in low-and-middle-income countries and in humanitarian crises. The high prevalence and gender disparities globally, has led to the development of few interventions for this population. The aim of this study is to evaluate the intervention programmes implemented by state and non-state actors in reducing sexual and gender-based violence against girls and young women in Abia State. 450 girls and young women age 18-35 years across the three senatorial districts of Abia state were selected through simple random sampling. A structure questionnaire titled “State and Non-state Actors Intervention on Sexual and Gender Based Violence Questionnaire (SNAISGBVQ) was used for data collection. The findings reveal a mixed response, with some interventions receiving high levels of agreement while others are largely absent or insufficiently implemented. The results highlight significant gaps in essential support services for survivors, particularly in the areas of shelter, counseling, legal aid, and vocational training, this suggests that both state and non-state actors have made efforts to create awareness about the issue across the three senatorial zones. The study concluded with some recommendations namely: Vocational training and economic empowerment programmes should be expanded to help women and girls gain financial independence, reducing their vulnerability to GBV. Stronger partnerships should be fostered between government agencies, NGOs, religious institutions, and traditional leaders to create a unified response to GBV.

Keywords : Gender-Based Violence, State Actor, Non-State Actors’, Interventions.

References :

1. Afolabi, A. A. (2024). Impact of pandemics on the rights of women and girls: COVID-19 as a sampler. Pplrunlaw Review, 3(1), 1-12.
2. Ahinkorah, B. O. (2021). Intimate partner violence against adolescent girls and young women and its association with miscarriages, stillbirths and induced abortions in sub-Saharan Africa: Evidence from demographic and health surveys. SSM-Population Health, 13, 100730.
3. Dipo-Salami, B., & Ikoku, M. (2022). Policy brief: Overcoming the limitations to the implementation of the Abia State Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law. Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
4. Grace, O. T. (2021). Addressing gender-based violence in Africa (Nigeria and Botswana). Saudi Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 6(10), 405-413.
5. Heise, L. (2011). What works to prevent partner violence? An evidence overview. https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/21062/1/Heise_Partner_Violence_evidence_overview.pdf
6. Krug, E. G., Mercy, J. A., Dahlberg, L. L., & Zwi, A. B. (2002). The world report on violence and health. The Lancet, 360(9339), 1083-1088.
7. Mbina, I. A., Adejumo, A. I., Emezie, D. M., Omoja, F. O., Atere, A. O., & Emaimo, J. (2025). Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Female Students Academic Performance: What can Social Workers Do?. DOI: 10.58806/ijiissh.2025.v2i9n01
8. Muluneh, M. D., Francis, L., Agho, K., & Stulz, V. (2021). A systematic review and meta-analysis of associated factors of gender-based violence against women in sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(11), 5882.
9. National Population Commission (2019). Nigeria demographic and health survey 2018—final report. NPC and ICF. http://dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR359/FR359.pdf
10. Nwankwo, C. A., & Macdonald, I. K. (2019). Market orientation and survival of small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. Foundations of Management, 11(1
11. Odini, F., Amuzie, C., Kalu, K. U., Nwamoh, U., Emma-Ukaegbu, U., Izuka, M., ... & Ezepue, C. (2024). Prevalence, pattern and predictors of intimate partner violence amongst female undergraduates in Abia State, Nigeria; public health implications. BMC women's health, 24(1), 259.
12. Olorunfemi, O. S. (2023). Burnout among Nurses in the Intensive Care Unit: A Systematic Literature Review. https://www.theseus.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/816410/Oluwaseun_Sunday_Olorunfemi.pdf?sequence=2
13. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN-Women. https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/4/statement-ed-phumzile-violence-against-women-during-pandemic
14. St. John, L., & Walmsley, R. (2021). The latest treatment interventions improving mental health outcomes for women, following gender-based violence in low-and-middle-income countries: A mini review. Frontiers in global women's health, 2, 792399.
15. UN Women (2021). Impact of COVID-19 on violence against women and girls and service provision: UN Women rapid assessment and findings.
16. UN Women (2020). Violence against women and girls: the shadow pandemic (Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women).
17. UNESCO (2019). Ready to learn and thrive: school health and nutrition around the world; highlights. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000381965
18. Wanjiru, S. W. (2021). Efficacy of Strategies That Mitigate Challenges Faced by Women Infected With HIV/AIDS in Majengo Urban Informal Settlement, Nyeri County, Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, (PhD Dissertation, Kenyatta University).
19. World Bank. (2019). Gender-based violence: An analysis of the implications for the Nigeria for Women Project. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/5ce7c6b6-c9d9-5073-a4c2-915387b632e0/content
20. World Health Organization. (2017a). Responding to children and adolescents who have been sexually abused: WHO clinical guidelines. World Health Organization.
21. World Health Organization. (2021). Violence against women prevalence estimates, 2018: Global, regional and national prevalence estimates for intimate partner violence against women and global and regional prevalence estimates for non-partner sexual violence against women. World Health Organization.