The Impact of Urban and Rural Contexts on Gender-Based Violence Policy Effectiveness: An Institutional Analysis

Abstract

This study examines the institutional determinants influencing the implementation of gender-based violence policies in Oromia, Ethiopia, focusing on the moderating role of urban-rural contexts. While national and regional gender-based violence policies are well-established, their effectiveness at the community level is inconsistent, with rural areas facing considerable challenges. These challenges include weak institutional capacity, cultural resistance, limited access to services, and reliance on informal dispute resolution mechanisms. The study combines both qualitative and quantitative methods, including a Likert scale questionnaire and in-depth interviews with a diverse group of stakeholders, such as community elders, rural women, health workers, police officers, and local government officials. The quantitative data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling and Qualitative data analysis by NVivo 14 software. The findings reveal notable differences between urban and rural areas: urban regions benefit from stronger institutional support, better public awareness, and greater access to services, while rural areas face barriers such as cultural resistance, weak enforcement mechanisms, and limited institutional capacity, hindering effective policy implementation. The study highlights the need for targeted, context-sensitive interventions to raise community awareness, strengthen institutional capacity, and improve coordination, particularly in rural areas. These findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, non-governmental organizations, and civil society organizations aiming to improve gender-based violence policy outcomes in Ethiopia, with recommendations for developing an inclusive, culturally sensitive support system for survivors across both urban and rural contexts.