Maisha means "life" in Swahili. Everyone wants to live happily with their families - violence between partners is bad for relationships and health. Specifically, intimate partner violence (IPV) is known to increase the risk of HIV infection.
This video outlines a programme in Mwanza, Tanzania to reduce IPV and thus reduce the risk of multiple health harms including HIV. Key steps in the project:
1. Researchers find out more about the problem
2. The Maisha programme team work with a microfinance NGO to give women access to credit and/or gender training to support women to recognise and reduce violence from their partners
3. Researchers evaluate the effectiveness of the Maisha programme in reducing violence and improving relationships
The Maisha project is implemented by the Mwanza centre of Tanzania's National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and the Mwanza Interventions Trial Unit (MITU), with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The Maisha project and this video are supported by the STRIVE research programme consortium funded by UKaid from the Department for International Development. However, the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the department’s official policies.
