Indashyikirwa IPV Prevention Trial in Rwanda

The purpose of this study is to test whether the Indashyikirwa ("Agents of Change") program is effective at preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) in communities in Rwanda.

Because IPV has many causes, including factors that operate at the individual, couple, and community levels, the Indashyikirwa program is designed with multiple elements targeting multiple levels. A training program for couples covers gender, power, and relationship skills. Individual graduates this program who are interested and eligible go on to an activist training program to help support sustained change in their communities. Parallel activities operate at the Sector level to create and support change at the community level. Sector level activities include (1) training in gender and IPV prevention for local opinion leaders. (2) Establishment of "Women's Spaces," which are drop in centers that provide support and referrals for women experiencing IPV as well as a wide range of community outreach services to educate communities about, gender, power, women's rights, and violence prevention.

Because the intervention is comprised of multiple components and includes elements designed to be delivered at the Sector level, Sectors were chosen as the unit of randomization. 28 sectors spread across 7 districts are participating; randomization as intervention or control was stratified across Districts to ensure adequate geographical spread of program delivery (Rwandan geographic administrative units are: Province \> District \> Sector \> Cell \> Village). Within each randomized sector are two separate assessments of program impact: (1) A "Couple Cohort" comprised of heterosexual couples who enrol together in the couples training program (some of whom continue into the activist training) compared to similarly situated couples in control communities who participate only in a standard, ongoing VSLA (village savings and loan association) program. Couples cohort members (both intervention and control) are surveyed at enrolment, 12 months post-baseline, and 24 months post-baseline. (2) A "Community Survey" designed to measure community diffusion of the intervention through the activities of the Women's Spaces, Opinion Leader Trainings, and activities of graduates of the activist training. The community survey comprises a repeat cross-sectional population-based household survey of married/cohabiting adults in intervention communities who are NOT direct participants in any of the formal trainings delivered by intervention implementation partners, conducted at baseline and 24 months only. This survey is designed to look at community level shifts in the occurrence of IPV, as well as changes in support for survivors and changes in attitudes among the general population.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

For the Couples Cohort Study:

1. Member of an active village savings and loan association (VSLA) group or the partner of a VSLA member
2. Between 18 and 49 years old
3. Living with or married to current partner for at least 6 months at baseline
4. Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in research
5. Willing to give contact information of 3 friends, neighbours, or family members who can be used to contact participant over the next 2.5 years
6. Has no current plans to move out of the study area in the next 2.5 years

For the Community Surveys:

1. Resident in the target community for at least 6 months prior to data collection
2. Between 18 and 49 years old
3. Living with or be married to current partner for at least 6 months
4. NOT enrolled in the couples cohort, opinion leader training, or serving as a women's space facilitator (i.e. not otherwise involved in the study)

d. Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in research

Exclusion Criteria (both Couples Cohort and Community Survey):

1. Does not speak Kinyarwanda
2. Unable to provide meaningful informed consent