Empowering Women in Digital Spaces: A Techno-Legal KAP Intervention Study in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

Background: The rapid proliferation of digital technologies has unfortunately escalated cyber crimes targeting women, necessitating robust techno-legal literacy.

Aim: This study evaluates the efficacy of a targeted one-day awareness workshop in enhancing cyber safety, digital rights, and legal protections among women.

Methods: Utilizing a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) framework, a sample of 415 rural and urban women in and around Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, was assessed using a pre- and post-intervention survey comprising binary-scored variables (Q8 to Q17).

Results: The overall mean awareness score nearly doubled, increasing from a pre-intervention baseline of 0.39 to a post-intervention score of 0.77. The highest improvements were observed in knowledge regarding complaint filing procedures (+0.47), Information Technology (IT) Act provisions (+0.46), and Indian Penal Code (IPC) provisions (+0.46). While urban participants maintained higher baseline awareness, rural participants demonstrated profound relative gains, effectively narrowing the digital literacy gap.

Conclusion: Continuous, targeted techno-legal interventions are highly effective in empowering women, bridging digital knowledge divides, and strengthening access to justice.