Christian Communities and Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review

Abstract

This peer-reviewed scoping review examines the existing evidence on how Christian communities in sub-Saharan Africa understand, respond to and potentially contribute to the prevention of intimate partner violence (IPV). Given the influence of Christianity and Christian institutions across the region, the authors argue that churches and Christian organisations occupy an important position in shaping beliefs about marriage, gender roles, relationships and acceptable behaviour within families. The review maps available research on the roles of churches, clergy, pastoral workers and Christian organisations in responding to IPV, while also identifying significant gaps in the evidence base. It considers interventions including awareness-raising and advocacy, pastoral counselling, contextual Bible study, theological reflection, training and community-based approaches. Importantly, the review highlights the potential of faith communities to challenge harmful gender norms while recognising that churches can also reinforce patriarchal understandings of marriage, submission and women's responsibilities, which may make it more difficult for women experiencing violence to seek help or leave abusive relationships.
The review identifies several opportunities for Christian communities to strengthen their response to IPV. These include developing the capacity of clergy and pastoral workers to recognise and respond appropriately to abuse; providing survivor-centred pastoral care and referrals; challenging theological interpretations that legitimise male authority or women's submission; and using Bible study and theological reflection to promote mutuality, dignity and non-violence within intimate relationships. At the same time, the authors identify substantial barriers, including limited institutional capacity, divisions within and between churches, inadequate evidence about the effectiveness of faith-based interventions, and the serious problem of sexual abuse and other forms of violence within religious institutions themselves. The review therefore calls for a more critical and evidence-informed approach to faith engagement: Christian communities need not only to support individual survivors, but also to examine the theological, cultural and institutional structures that can enable violence. For organisations working to prevent GBV in Africa, the article provides an important evidence base for designing faith-sector interventions that combine prevention, theological transformation, survivor support, safeguarding, accountability and referral to appropriate services.