A Systematic Review on the Effectiveness of the Cure Violence Approach

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Criminology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Violence is a significant public health issue in impacted communities.
• The Cure Violence approach adapts epidemic control strategies to reduce violence.
• Existing research on its effectiveness requires systematic evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review studies on the effectiveness of the Cure Violence approach.
• To analyze findings related to reductions in shootings and killings.
• To identify factors influencing program success.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review following PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cure Violence Global files.
• Analyzed 13 papers covering 27 program sites and 83 findings on shootings/killings.

Main Results:

• Overall, 68.7% of findings indicated reduced shootings/killings; 32.5% were statistically significant.
• Baltimore showed mixed results, while other locations reported high reduction rates (95.8% sites, 54.2% significant).
• Notable reductions include 52% in Chicago killings, 63% in NYC shootings, and 74% in Cali, Colombia killings.

Conclusions:

• The Cure Violence approach demonstrates effectiveness in reducing violence, with significant variations based on location.
• Contextual factors, program implementation (e.g., targeting high-risk individuals, credible messengers), and sustained funding are crucial.
• Future research should incorporate contextual elements to enhance violence prevention strategies.