The action research project “Integrated Model for Responding to Gender-Based Violence in Clinic and Community Settings” (GBV) has been implemented in seven communes of Cua Lo town, Nghe An province. The project is funded by the Ford Foundation for the period of May 2006 to April 2009.
Cua Lo, a coastal tourist town, was founded in 1994 and is now home to a population of 48,000. Consultation of Investment in Health Promotion (CIHP) first worked in Cua Lo from 2002 to 2004, conducting research on the links between gender, reproductive health and sexuality. This research indicated that domestic violence is a serious problem in this area. According to the quantitative findings, 51 percent of male interviewees had hit their wives at some point in the past and 36.8 percent of female interviewees revealed that they had been hit by their husbands. The data showed a large discrepancy between the number of male and female interviewees who disclosed violent situations in their pasts. Meanwhile, qualitative research results showed that women often kept silent and accepted violent situations, while community leaders and government staff tended to consider violence an individual and private issue that is uncommon in society. Married couples often dealt with violence within the family, unless it became dangerous or threatened their lives. Wives are often blamed for violence in their families, and consequently tended to try to hide their husbands’ violent behaviours.
Research results led CIHP and the District People’s Committee to collaborate in implementing the first project addressing gender-based violence in Cua Lo. This is a pilot project employing an integrated model that combines GBV screening and support for victims in clinics with awareness promotion and support for victims in the community.
The project includes both intervention and research components.
Objectives of the intervention:
- To foster a women–friendly, anti-GBV environment within health facilities and communities;
2. To increase health providers’ capacity and effectiveness in identifying, assessing and treating victims of GBV by integrating screening and treatment into existing health care services;
3. To develop effective systems for linking community and health system resources to support GBV victims; and
- To document, evaluate and disseminate information to encourage replication of successful GBV interventions.
Objectives of the research:
1. To identify problems and gaps in order to refine the project design during initial implementation;
2. To provide process documentation and monitoring data for project management and later replication; and
3. To provide evidence of the project’s significance and impact from the perspectives of various participants and stakeholders.
The project has attracted the attention of many district organizations and local people. Intervention activities include the following:
- Trainings and workshops for health staff and local leaders (at district, commune and village levels) to improve awareness, knowledge and capacity to deal with GBV.
- A counselling centre, which has been launched and for which counsellors have been trained intensively.
- Communication on gender equality and GBV in the community.
- Setting up GBV victim support systems at all levels (in clinics and the community).
- Advocacy to improve the response to GBV situations and support for GBV victims.
The project has made great efforts to integrate its activities with the planned activities of local organizations to improve their capacity and motivation to work on GBV prevention, while at the same time taking advantage of local resources. This approach enhances the effectiveness of intervention, and contributes to the sustainability of project activities.
Main activities in 2007 included:
- Capacity building activities
- Improving knowledge on gender, gender based violence, and laws related to GBV of staff at district organizations, village and commune leaders, students and activists.
- Improving capacity of key persons among local organizations and authorities.
- Improving capacity of master trainers.
- Ensuring that 100 percent of health staff are trained on screening skills.
- Communication and advocacy activities
- Designing and producing communication materials, broadcast materials, articles, reports and major films for newspapers and local television and radio stations.
- Direct communication in the community and in schools, organizing examinations and integrating GBV into current clubs and group meetings.
- Victim support and identification activities
- Establishing a GBV victim support system based on current support resources in clinics and the community.
- Training on GBV victim identification, counselling and support skills for counsellors and active members of the community.
- Implementing GBV victim identification, counselling and support activities, and sharing support experiences among members. | 