Needs Assessment of the Clinical Management of Sexual-Gender Based Violence across Medical Teams International Country Offices in Bangladesh, Tanzania, and Uganda Restricted; Files Only
Nguyen, Michelle (Spring 2022)
Published
Abstract
Background: Women and girls are among the most vulnerable groups to experience sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) within complex humanitarian settings. Provisions of legal care, psychosocial care, and clinical management of rape (CMR) services are available to survivors, in respond to their SGBV needs. While there is a growing number of SGBV cases, many cases go unreported due to reporting hesitancies. Underreporting can result in lack of SGBV service utilization, including CMR services, putting the survivor at risk for serious short-term and long term physical, mental, and social health consequences.
Objective: To assess the current practices and gaps in existing protocol around SGBV reporting and clinical management of rape survivors in Uganda, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.
Methods: The study employed qualitative data collection through interviews with six SRH/HIV officers overseeing the nine settlements in Mtendeli and Nyarugusu, Tanzania, Adjumani, Palorinya, Kyangwali, Mbarbara, Kyaka II, and Rwamwanja, Uganda, and Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. One-on-one interviews were conducted between June 2021 and August 2021. A deductive codebook was developed and used for thematic analysis of the key informant interviews.
Results: The interviews revealed location/setting, facilitator/reporting authority, communication methods, support systems, emergency shelter/protections, prioritization of justice, and referral as major themes of the reporting process. Participants discussed language barriers and lack of access and knowledge of SGBV services as challenges to the reporting process. Themes of initial treatment, loss to follow-up, tracking, staff training/guidelines, and overall capacity emerged during discussion of the treatment process. The treatment process was met with barriers of staff capacity, treatment documentation, and medication stock/supply. Both the reporting and treatment process were met with the challenges surrounding cultural norms/stigma and structural privacy and confidentiality.
Discussion: With knowledge of the existing practices and gaps to the reporting and treatment process, the development of potential projects, funding considerations, and updated protocols may help strengthen the overall quality of CMR services offered. There is a need across all settlements to strengthen the privacy and confidentiality of the reporting and treatment process, as well as to reduce the stigmatization of SGBV within the communities.
Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION……………………………………………..……..…………1
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………….………………….……6
CHAPTER 3: METHODS…………………………………………..…………………………30
CHAPTER 4 : RESULTS……..………………………………………………..………………36
CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION…………………………………………………..………………45
CHAPTER 6: PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS…………………...…..……………….52
REFERENCES…………….………………………………….……………………….…………54
APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1: PARTICIPANT INTERVIEW GUIDE……….………...….....……………59
APPENDIX 2: QUALITATIVE CODEBOOK…….………...…………….....………….....61
About this Master's Thesis
| School | |
|---|---|
| Department | |
| Degree | |
| Submission | |
| Language |
|
| Research Field | |
| Keyword | |
| Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor |
Primary PDF
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
File download under embargo until 23 May 2024 | 2022-04-21 16:22:48 -0400 | File download under embargo until 23 May 2024 |
Supplemental Files
| Thumbnail | Title | Date Uploaded | Actions |
|---|