Peer-reviewed article
Community Awareness of NPA-VAWC in Ending Violence Against Children in Mbeya City Council
Bakari George, Elly Mwampashe ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how well community members in Mbeya City Council, Tanzania knew about the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (NPA-VAWC). While 96% of respondents recognized violence against children and could name different types, only 35% had heard of the government's plan to address it. Community awareness of the plan's strategies was uneven, with people more familiar with positive parenting approaches than with economic or legal approaches to ending violence.
Key points
- 96% of community members were aware of violence against children and could identify its different forms
- Only 35% had heard of the NPA-VAWC policy framework
- 67% demonstrated medium-level awareness of the plan's strategies
- Positive parenting was better known than household economic strengthening or legal enforcement approaches
- The study concludes community awareness is inadequate and uneven, limiting participation in ending violence
Limitations
The study was limited to one city council in one region of Tanzania, so findings may not represent awareness levels across the country. The study measured awareness of a policy framework rather than measuring actual outcomes for children's safety or reductions in violence.
Abstract
Violence against children (VAC) remains a global challenge and a major concern in Tanzania despite strong policy and legal frameworks. The Government of Tanzania introduced the National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (NPA-VAWC) 2017/2018–2021/2022 to address this issue through prevention, protection, and support strategies. This study assessed community awareness of the implementation of the NPA-VAWC in Mbeya City Council, a region with high incidences of VAC. A mixed-method approach was adopted, employing a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from 100 randomly selected community members using questionnaires and from four purposively selected key informants through interviews. Additional information was obtained from documentary reviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics in SPSS, while qualitative data were examined through content analysis. Findings revealed that although 96% of respondents were aware of VAC and could identify its different forms, only 35% had heard of the NPA-VAWC. The majority (67%) demonstrated a medium level of awareness regarding its strategies, with greater familiarity of positive parenting compared to household economic strengthening or legal enforcement. The study concludes that community awareness of NPA-VAWC is inadequate and uneven, limiting full participation. It recommends intensified sensitisation campaigns, stronger NGO and government collaboration, and targeted education to strengthen community ownership in ending VAC.