Gender-based Violence in sub-Saharan Africa: A Subject Analysis

Adequate knowledge of GBV subject domain as a research specialty is crucial for Library and Information professionals (LIS) to offer quality information services that would abate the high incidence of GBV in sub-Saharan Africa. The Chapter examines knowledge coverage and distribution of subject terms of GBV research in sub-Saharan Africa. First, it identified keywords that are used most often, and second, it identified disciplines that have contributed to GBV as a scientific field. A content analysis was performed on author-supplied keywords based on 6101 journal articles and subject areas classification extracted from Scopus database over a period of twenty-five years (1996 to 2020). Our findings were as follow: (1) most frequently co-occurring keywords on GBVresearch were: intimate partner violence, South Africa, gender, sexual violence and women. Distribution of GBV research by subject terms revealed medicine, social science, psychology and arts and humanities as the major fields contributing the most relevant publications in the GBV research, while records on Technology, Engineering and Mathematics were meagre. The less researched areas included School-related GBV, gender-budgeting, and LGBTQ+. Limitations of the study were the use of one database and non-inclusion of other scientific communication. This study analyses subject domain and establish frequently researched as well as the not-too-common topics so as to enhance LIS professionals’ knowledge on the subject matter and guide them in handling information inquiry. We recommend the strategic use of all cadres of libraries into GBV issues as a means of accelerating the actualization of sustainable development goals.