Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41803745›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2026

Intersecting inequities: a systematic review of socio-cultural, economic, and legal determinants of violence against women and girls in Asia (ANULA project-WP1 Evidence Synthesis).

Nimesha Wijamuni, Sohier Elneil, Peter Phiri, Thamudi Sundarapperuma, Janaki Warushahennadi, Vindya Pathiraja, George Uchenna Eleje, Jian Qing Shi, Nirmala Rathnayake, Gayathri Delanerolle

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Nimesha WijamuniUniversity of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
Sohier ElneilUniversity College London, London, UK.
Peter PhiriHampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK.
Thamudi SundarapperumaUniversity of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
Janaki WarushahennadiUniversity of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
Vindya PathirajaUniversity of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka.
George Uchenna ElejeNnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Jian Qing ShiSouthern University of Science and Technology, Shenzen, China.
Nirmala RathnayakeUniversity of Ruhuna, Matara, Sri Lanka. nirmalarathnayake@ahs.ruh.ac.lk.
Gayathri DelanerolleUniversity of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundViolence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a critical public health challenge globally and in Asia, where it is rooted in entrenched socio-cultural, economic, and legal inequities. Despite increasing awareness, the drivers of VAWG in Asian contexts remain poorly consolidated across disciplines.

objectiveTo systematically identify and report the socio-cultural, economic, and legal determinants of VAWG in Asia.

methodsAn evidence synthesis protocol was systematic developed and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420241046281). Comprehensive searches were conducted across PubMed, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group Specialised Register for English-language peer-reviewed articles published between April 1980 and April 2025. The analysis was conducted using contextual and thematic approaches.

resultsFrom 16,473 records screened, 34 studies met inclusion criteria. Studies spanned South, Southeast, and East Asia, and included diverse methodologies. Thematic analysis revealed five dominant themes: socio-cultural determinants, economic constraints, legal and institutional weaknesses, regional and demographic variations, and emerging forms of violence. The total population represented across the studies was 193,429 women and girls.

conclusionVAWG in Asia is perpetuated by intersecting systems of gender inequality, economic deprivation, and weak legal enforcement. The evidence supports the need for multisectoral, culturally sensitive interventions to address the structural roots of violence, given the high prevalence observed across multiple subgroups, the documented physical and mental health consequences, and emerging signals from intervention studies. Future research should prioritise underrepresented regions and emerging modalities of violence, such as cyber abuse.

Indexed as

Gender-Based ViolenceAsiaFemaleHumansSocioeconomic Disparities in HealthSocioeconomic FactorsAsiaEconomic abuseGender-based violenceLegal systemsPatriarchySocio-cultural factorsSystematic reviewViolence against women

Identifiers

PMID41803745
PMCPMC12980950

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.