A protocol for a systematic review of health consequences of conflict-related sexual violence (2015-2024)

A protocol for a systematic review of health consequences of conflict-related sexual violence (2015-2024) | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article A protocol for a systematic review of health consequences of conflict-related sexual violence (2015-2024) Anna Kwiatkowska, Solveig Frøiland, Andrea Solnes Miltenburg, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5675419/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Jun, 2025 Read the published version in Systematic Reviews → Version 1 posted 5 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is a public health issue affecting thousands of survivors and with long-term consequences, however, it is underreported and difficult to investigate. This systematic review, covering 2015 to 2024, will explore sexual violence in conflict zones, extract and summarize the various reported health outcomes and address knowledge gaps. Methods Quantitative, qualitative and mixed method studies will be included to explore the physical, mental, and social consequences of sexual violence. The WHO definition of sexual violence will guide the review to ensure consistency and alignment with global standards. Search terms will be selected with the assistance of a health information specialist and based on previous research. Only peer-reviewed articles will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts.. Selected articles will be assessed for quality using the MMAT tool. Covidence will be used to assist in the study selection and data extraction. Objective The objective of this study is to assess the reported health consequences of CRSV Key research questions include: how sexual violence is defined in the literature; its physical, mental, and social health consequences; how perpetrators and the type of sexual violence are portrayed; and the contextual factors that facilitate or hinder such violence in conflict settings. Discussion In light of ongoing global conflicts, this review will address the urgent need to understand the health consequences of CRSV. Building on previous work, including Ba and Bhopal (2014) (1) and to supplement Rubini et al. (2023) (2), this study integrates quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-method research within a Biopsychosocial Model (3) framework to provide a holistic perspective on CRSV. Recognizing challenges such as underreporting by the survivors—shaped by stigma, safety concerns, and survivor agency (4)—this review also considers how perpetrators and experiences are portrayed. Systematic review registration: The protocol has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024503037). Sexual violence Sexual abuse Sexual harassment Rape Armed conflict War Health consequences Full Text Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 21 Jun, 2025 Read the published version in Systematic Reviews → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Accept 05 Jun, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 14 Apr, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 11 Apr, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 11 Apr, 2025 First submitted to journal 10 Apr, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5675419","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":441752122,"identity":"61173782-e058-4ac0-b220-05501db433fa","order_by":0,"name":"Anna Kwiatkowska","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAqklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLACiQMMcgzMpGoxJlELwwGGxAaiFfPP7j34weLM4fQNx5kPMBdUEOOmO+eSJSRuHM7dcJgtgXnGGWKsuZFjICHx4TZQC48BM28bETrkb+QY/wBqSTcgWovBjRwzoMNuJxCvxRCoxULizH/DmUC/HOYhxi9yQIfdljiWJs93/vDBxzzEhBgIMEtAGQeI1MDAwPiBaKWjYBSMglEwIgEAOXY2rAqiJlAAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1491-3537","institution":"University of Oslo: Universitetet i Oslo","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Anna","middleName":"","lastName":"Kwiatkowska","suffix":""},{"id":441752123,"identity":"b802eb65-8eb6-4c13-b4a6-6fb811244bb9","order_by":1,"name":"Solveig Frøiland","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Oslo: Universitetet i Oslo","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Solveig","middleName":"","lastName":"Frøiland","suffix":""},{"id":441752124,"identity":"3bc7fa42-c723-4fe6-9e9c-eb769b2cf5bb","order_by":2,"name":"Andrea Solnes Miltenburg","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Oslo: Universitetet i Oslo","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Andrea","middleName":"Solnes","lastName":"Miltenburg","suffix":""},{"id":441752125,"identity":"db69f768-b381-4f59-996c-81e0e1f4ce9b","order_by":3,"name":"Cynthia Khamala Wangamati","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Oslo: Universitetet i Oslo","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Cynthia","middleName":"Khamala","lastName":"Wangamati","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-12-19 09:25:40","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5675419/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5675419/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-025-02874-4","type":"published","date":"2025-06-21T15:57:55+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":85231463,"identity":"8b961c2c-5f27-4e55-809c-6ff5df85bf11","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-06-23 16:08:38","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":338639,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Protocolwtc1.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-5675419/v1_covered_7269a074-d44d-4243-bbdf-b686da8f8170.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"","formattedTitle":"A protocol for a systematic review of health consequences of conflict-related sexual violence (2015-2024)","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"systematic-reviews","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"sysr","sideBox":"Learn more about [Systematic Reviews](http://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/sysr/default.aspx","title":"Systematic Reviews","twitterHandle":"@MedicalEvidence","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Sexual violence, Sexual abuse, Sexual harassment, Rape, Armed conflict, War, Health consequences","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5675419/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5675419/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) is a public health issue affecting thousands of survivors and with long-term consequences, however, it is underreported and difficult to investigate. 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