Expanding a primary prevention program to address sexual and gender-based violence among health sciences students in Ghana: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a human rights and social justice issue that impacts individuals worldwide, particularly university students. The literature demonstrates that culturally and contextually tailored programs to reduce and ultimately prevent SGBV for university students have received little priority in sub-Saharan African countries.

OBJECTIVES

This pilot study assessed the feasibility, acceptability, and safety of the peer-delivered Relationship Tidbits intervention for use with health science students in Ghana.

DESIGN

We conducted a pilot feasibility test to determine if this approach and content were feasible for this setting and these students.

METHODS

Health science students enrolled at a central university in Ghana were recruited in July 2019 for participation in a peer-delivered primary prevention intervention, Relationship Tidbits. All participants completed pre- and post-test surveys focused on acceptability, safety, gender equality, and rape myth acceptance.

RESULTS

Health science student participants (n = 137) had a significant history of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Overall, this pilot study demonstrated that the Relationship Tidbits intervention is feasible, acceptable, and safe for use with health science students in Ghana during their university education. While this study was not powered to focus on outcomes, there were indications that this short, one-time intervention may result in at least short-term attitudinal changes related to gender equality and rape myth acceptance.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study highlight the importance of implementing comprehensive, culturally appropriate SGBV prevention efforts in Ghanaian university settings.