Citation

Eisenhut K, Sauerborn E, Garcia-Moreno C, Wild V. BMJ Glob. Health 2020; 5(4): e001954.

Affiliation

Institute of Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001954

PMID

32399255

PMCID

PMC7204921

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Violence against women is a pressing global health problem that is being met with a new intervention strategy-mobile applications. With this systematic review, we provide an initial analysis and functional categorisation of apps addressing violence against women.

METHODS: We conducted a systematic online search conforming with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify apps addressing violence against women in five World Bank regions (Europe and Central Asia; North America, Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East and North Africa; South Asia; and sub-Saharan Africa). Applications with location of initiation in mentioned regions and ≥100 downloads were included. Data on sector, target group(s), year of release, location of initiation and implementation were extracted. By means of a structured qualitative content analysis, applications were then categorised according to their main functions.

RESULTS: Of 327 relevant applications, 171 were included into the systematic review and assigned to one of five identified categories of main functions, respectively: emergency, avoidance, education, reporting and evidence building, and supporting apps. The largest proportion (46.78%) consisted of emergency apps, followed by education, reporting and evidence building, supporting and avoidance apps in descending order. With regards to the geographical distribution of app categories, significant (χ²(20)=58.172; p=0.000) differences among the included regions were found.

CONCLUSION: A vast proportion of apps addressing violence against women primarily draw on one-time emergency or avoidance solutions, as opposed to more preventative approaches. Further research is necessary, critically considering questions of data security, personal safety and efficacy of such mobile health interventions.

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Language: en

Keywords

health policy; prevention strategies; public health; systematic review