• Login
    View Item 
    •   JScholarship Home
    • JHU Libraries Open Access Fund
    • 2012/2013 Recipients
    • View Item
    •   JScholarship Home
    • JHU Libraries Open Access Fund
    • 2012/2013 Recipients
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Development of a screening tool to identify female survivors of gender-based violence in a humanitarian setting:qualitative evidence from research among refugees in Ethiopia.

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    2013 Wirtz Development of A Screening.pdf (256.1Kb)
    Date
    2013-06-12
    Author
    Wirtz, Andrea L
    Glass, Nancy
    Pham, Kiemanh
    Aberra, Amsale
    Rubenstein, Leonard S.
    Singh, Sonal
    Vu, Alexander
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    BACKGROUND: High levels of gender-based violence (GBV) persist among conflict-affected populations and within humanitarian settings and are paralleled by under-reporting and low service utilization. Novel and evidence-based approaches are necessary to change the current state of GBV amongst these populations. We present the findings of qualitative research, which were used to inform the development of a screening tool as one potential strategy to identify and respond to GBV for females in humanitarian settings. METHODS: Qualitative research methods were conducted from January-February 2011 to explore the range of experiences of GBV and barriers to reporting GBV among female refugees. Individual interview participants (n=37) included female refugees (≥15 years), who were survivors of GBV, living in urban or one of three camps settings in Ethiopia, and originating from six conflict countries. Focus group discussion participants (11 groups; 77 participants) included health, protection and community service staff working in the urban or camp settings. Interviews and discussions were conducted in the language of preference, with assistance by interpreters when needed, and transcribed for analysis by grounded-theory technique. RESULTS: Single and multiple counts of GBV were reported and ranged from psychological and social violence; rape, gang rape, sexual coercion, and other sexual violence; abduction; and physical violence. Domestic violence was predominantly reported to occur when participants were living in the host country. Opportunistic violence, often manifested by rape, occurred during transit when women depended on others to reach their destination. Abduction within the host country, and often across borders, highlighted the constant state of vulnerability of refugees. Barriers to reporting included perceived and experienced stigma in health settings and in the wider community, lack of awareness of services, and inability to protect children while mothers sought services. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate that GBV persists across the span of the refugee experience, though there is a transition in the range of perpetrators and types of GBV that are experienced. Further, survivors experience significant individual and system barriers to disclosure and service utilization. The findings suggest that routine GBV screening by skilled service providers offers a strategy to confidentially identify and refer survivors to needed services within refugee settings, potentially enabling survivors to overcome existing barriers.
    URI
    http://jhir.library.jhu.edu/handle/1774.2/36739
    Collections
    • 2012/2013 Recipients

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    Policies | Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV
     

     

    Browse

    All of JScholarshipCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    DSpace software copyright © 2002-2016  DuraSpace
    Policies | Contact Us | Send Feedback
    Theme by 
    Atmire NV