Equipping community health workers in Rwanda to deliver a gender transformative parenting program to prevent violence against women and children at scale

Authors: Kate Doyle, Isha Bhatnagar, Emmanuel Karamage, Jean Paul Tuyisingize, Chantal Muhimpundu, Ange Marie Yvette Nyiransabimana, François Regis Cyiza, Fidèle Rutayisire, Silas Ngayaboshya, Webster Mavhu

This study looked at how training community health workers (CHWs) in Rwanda helped them deliver the Bandebereho program, which aims to reduce intimate partner violence. After the training, CHWs had better attitudes about gender equality, felt more confident to run the program, and saw improvements in their relationships at home and in their community work. The study shows that proper training takes time but is key to delivering such programs well, especially when working with governments to reach more people.