Mixed Methods to Advance Global Health Research on Gender-Based Violence Syndemics: A New Research Framework

Emerging studies from low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC) have applied mixed methods to investigate gender-based violence (GBV) syndemics. There is currently no guidance on how to appropriately combine qualitative and quantitative methods when testing syndemic theory. This research introduces a mixed methods framework for testing GBV syndemics in LMIC. A multi-step approach was used for framework development. The framework centers on the distinct strengths of the population perspective (quantitative) and locally grounded perspective (qualitative) and informs the development of (i) measurement tools, (ii) causal models, and (iii) contextual interventions. This article contributes an application of mixed methods to inform the design of studies that robustly test theoretical constructs. Further, this article demonstrates how a sensitive/hidden exposure like GBV contributes to the patterning of chronic and infectious diseases, leading to population health disparities.