Religious institutions’ strategies to mitigate sexual violence against adolescent girls in pastoralist communities, Manyara, Tanzania

This study examined the strategies employed by religious institutions to redress sexual violence against adolescent girls in pastoralist communities of the Manyara region, Tanzania, using institutional theory as a theoretical framework. A descriptive mixed-method research design was adopted. The study targeted household heads and employed purposive and systematic sampling techniques. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to 240 respondents, 48 key informant interviews, and eight focus group discussions (FGDs). Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic content analysis, while quantitative data were subjected to inferential statistics analysis. Findings reveal that religious institutions employ a multifaceted approach, including awareness seminars, open-air meetings, advocacy, counseling, entrepreneurship programs, and preaching to influence pastoralist communities. The study recommends that religious institutions intensify their advocacy efforts to influence policymakers to revise and enforce policies and laws that protect children's rights, particularly those concerning marital status. Furthermore, religious institutions should strengthen policy implementation, allocate additional resources, and foster collaborative programs to effectively combat sexual violence against adolescent girls in the Manyara region.