Identifying and adapting an evidence-based intervention to reduce campus sexual harassment in Pakistan

 

Location: Karachi, Pakistan

 

Despite the existence of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to mitigate campus sexual harassment globally, none have been tailored or implemented within the context of Pakistani universities. This research aims to conduct a formative study in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff at diverse university campuses in Pakistan to select and adapt a contextually appropriate intervention for the reduction of campus SH.

Phase 1 of the study involves qualitative research, including interviews with faculty, and staff as well as focus groups with students. This phase seeks to explore and define the experiences of sexual harassment (SH) at Pakistani universities and identify multilevel factors influencing its prevalence. The socio-ecological framework will be employed to map these factors, including awareness, trust in institutional response, social norms, and leadership investment. In Phase 2, results from Phase 1 will be shared with university advisory boards (UABs), comprised of participants from Phase 1, to identify up to eight EBIs from a campus-based SH prevention interventions inventory. Each EBI will be systematically evaluated on dimensions of acceptability, feasibility, strength of evidence, and cost, before ultimately selecting one to be adapted and manualized. This study aims to facilitate the implementation of interventions targeting SH, offering suggested adaptations to improve feasibility and acceptability within the Pakistani context.

 

Team

Dr. Seema Laasi

Principal Investigator

 

Zarmeen Shakil

Irina Bergenfeld

Meroona Gopang

Nirmal Niazi