Intersecting inequities: a systematic review of socio-cultural, economic, and legal determinants of violence against women and girls in Asia (ANULA project-WP1 Evidence Synthesis)

Abstract

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a critical public health challenge globally and in Asia, where it is rooted in entrenched socio-cultural, economic, and legal inequities. Despite increasing awareness, the drivers of VAWG in Asian contexts remain poorly consolidated across disciplines. To systematically identify and report the socio-cultural, economic, and legal determinants of VAWG in Asia. An evidence synthesis protocol was systematic developed and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420241046281). Comprehensive searches were conducted across PubMed, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group Specialised Register for English-language peer-reviewed articles published between April 1980 and April 2025. The analysis was conducted using contextual and thematic approaches. From 16,473 records screened, 34 studies met inclusion criteria. Studies spanned South, Southeast, and East Asia, and included diverse methodologies. Thematic analysis revealed five dominant themes: socio-cultural determinants, economic constraints, legal and institutional weaknesses, regional and demographic variations, and emerging forms of violence. The total population represented across the studies was 193,429 women and girls. VAWG in Asia is perpetuated by intersecting systems of gender inequality, economic deprivation, and weak legal enforcement. The evidence supports the need for multisectoral, culturally sensitive interventions to address the structural roots of violence, given the high prevalence observed across multiple subgroups, the documented physical and mental health consequences, and emerging signals from intervention studies. Future research should prioritise underrepresented regions and emerging modalities of violence, such as cyber abuse.