@article{ref1,
title="Mobile applications addressing violence against women: a systematic review",
journal="BMJ global health",
year="2020",
author="Eisenhut, Katharina and Sauerborn, Ela and Garcia-Moreno, Claudia and Wild, Verina",
volume="5",
number="4",
pages="e001954-e001954",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Violence against women is a pressing global health problem that is being met with a new intervention strategy-mobile applications. With this systematic review, we provide an initial analysis and functional categorisation of apps addressing violence against women. <br><br>METHODS: We conducted a systematic online search conforming with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify apps addressing violence against women in five World Bank regions (Europe and Central Asia; North America, Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East and North Africa; South Asia; and sub-Saharan Africa). Applications with location of initiation in mentioned regions and ≥100 downloads were included. Data on sector, target group(s), year of release, location of initiation and implementation were extracted. By means of a structured qualitative content analysis, applications were then categorised according to their main functions. <br><br>RESULTS: Of 327 relevant applications, 171 were included into the systematic review and assigned to one of five identified categories of main functions, respectively: emergency, avoidance, education, reporting and evidence building, and supporting apps. The largest proportion (46.78%) consisted of emergency apps, followed by education, reporting and evidence building, supporting and avoidance apps in descending order. With regards to the geographical distribution of app categories, significant (χ<sup>2</sup>(20)=58.172; p=0.000) differences among the included regions were found. <br><br>CONCLUSION: A vast proportion of apps addressing violence against women primarily draw on one-time emergency or avoidance solutions, as opposed to more preventative approaches. Further research is necessary, critically considering questions of data security, personal safety and efficacy of such mobile health interventions.<br><br>© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2059-7908",
doi="10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001954",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001954"
}