Disclosure of Violence against Women and Girls in Senegal

Malick Dione, CGIAR, International Fodd Policy Research Institute
Amber Peterman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
AGNÈS LE PORT, IRD
JUSTINE BRIAUX, UNICEF
FATMA LAMESSE, Carrefour International
Melissa Hidrobo, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Survey estimates of violence against women and girls (VAWG) often underestimate true prevalence due to disclosure challenges. To address this, we conducted a survey experiment with 3,400 women and girls (ages 15-35), randomly assigning them to face-to-face interviews or audio computer-assisted self-interviews (ACASI). ACASI participants reported 4 to 7 percentage points higher lifetime intimate partner violence rates compared to face-to-face interviews. Differences were more pronounced for non-partner VAWG, with increases ranging from 6 to 12 percentage points for physical violence and sexual harassment. Correlates of increased disclosure were tested, revealing few discernible patterns. While ACASI surveys show promise in encouraging disclosure, trade-offs include limitations in question complexity and higher time costs for development and implementation. The findings underscore the potential of innovative survey methods to address underreporting challenges in understanding and combating VAWG.