Barriers and facilitators to care-seeking among survivors of gender-based violence in the Dadaab refugee complex
In humanitarian settings, timely access to care is essential for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). Despite the existence of GBV support services, challenges still exist in maximising benefits for survivors. This study aimed to understand the characteristics of violence against women and expl...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1722404 |
| _version_ | 1798014762843373568 |
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| author | Sheru Muuo Stella Kagwiria Muthuri Martin Kavao Mutua Alys McAlpine Loraine J. Bacchus Hope Ogego Martin Bangha Mazeda Hossain Chimaraoke Izugbara |
| author_facet | Sheru Muuo Stella Kagwiria Muthuri Martin Kavao Mutua Alys McAlpine Loraine J. Bacchus Hope Ogego Martin Bangha Mazeda Hossain Chimaraoke Izugbara |
| author_sort | Sheru Muuo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In humanitarian settings, timely access to care is essential for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). Despite the existence of GBV support services, challenges still exist in maximising benefits for survivors. This study aimed to understand the characteristics of violence against women and explore barriers and facilitators to care-seeking for GBV by women in two camps within the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya. A mixed-methods design was used to study women accessing comprehensive GBV services between February 2016 and February 2017. Women were recruited into a cohort study (n = 209) and some purposively selected for qualitative in-depth interviews (n = 34). Survivor characteristics were descriptively analysed from baseline measures, and interview data thematically assessed. A majority of women were Muslim, of Somali origin, had been residents in the camp for more than five years, with little or no formal education, and meagre or no monthly income. From the survey, 60.3% and 66.7% of women had experienced non-partner violence or intimate partner violence in their lifetime respectively. Facilitators to accessing GBV services by survivors included awareness of GBV services and self-perceived high severity of acts of violence. Barriers included stigma by family and the community, fear of further violence from perpetrators, feelings of helplessness and insecurity, and being denied entry to service provision premises by guards. Women in the Dadaab refugee camps face violence from intimate partners, family, and other refugees. There is an urgent need to address drivers of GBV and the barriers to disclosure and access to services for all survivors of GBV. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:23:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4eb17885711342298e7d649898ecec5d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2641-0397 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:23:22Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters |
| spelling | doaj.art-4eb17885711342298e7d649898ecec5d2022-12-22T04:16:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSexual and Reproductive Health Matters2641-03972020-01-0128110.1080/26410397.2020.17224041722404Barriers and facilitators to care-seeking among survivors of gender-based violence in the Dadaab refugee complexSheru Muuo0Stella Kagwiria Muthuri1Martin Kavao Mutua2Alys McAlpine3Loraine J. Bacchus4Hope Ogego5Martin Bangha6Mazeda Hossain7Chimaraoke Izugbara8Research Officer, African Population and Health Research Center, APHRCAssociate Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center, APHRCPost-Doctoral Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center, APHRCDoctoral Candidate, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineAssociate Professor of Social Science, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineResearch Intern, African Population and Health Research Center, APHRCAssociate Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center, APHRCAssistant Professor of Social Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineDirector, Global Health, Youth and Development, International Center for Research on WomenIn humanitarian settings, timely access to care is essential for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). Despite the existence of GBV support services, challenges still exist in maximising benefits for survivors. This study aimed to understand the characteristics of violence against women and explore barriers and facilitators to care-seeking for GBV by women in two camps within the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya. A mixed-methods design was used to study women accessing comprehensive GBV services between February 2016 and February 2017. Women were recruited into a cohort study (n = 209) and some purposively selected for qualitative in-depth interviews (n = 34). Survivor characteristics were descriptively analysed from baseline measures, and interview data thematically assessed. A majority of women were Muslim, of Somali origin, had been residents in the camp for more than five years, with little or no formal education, and meagre or no monthly income. From the survey, 60.3% and 66.7% of women had experienced non-partner violence or intimate partner violence in their lifetime respectively. Facilitators to accessing GBV services by survivors included awareness of GBV services and self-perceived high severity of acts of violence. Barriers included stigma by family and the community, fear of further violence from perpetrators, feelings of helplessness and insecurity, and being denied entry to service provision premises by guards. Women in the Dadaab refugee camps face violence from intimate partners, family, and other refugees. There is an urgent need to address drivers of GBV and the barriers to disclosure and access to services for all survivors of GBV.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1722404gender-based violenceservicescare-seekingrefugeehumanitarian settingsdadaabkenya |
| spellingShingle | Sheru Muuo Stella Kagwiria Muthuri Martin Kavao Mutua Alys McAlpine Loraine J. Bacchus Hope Ogego Martin Bangha Mazeda Hossain Chimaraoke Izugbara Barriers and facilitators to care-seeking among survivors of gender-based violence in the Dadaab refugee complex Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters gender-based violence services care-seeking refugee humanitarian settings dadaab kenya |
| title | Barriers and facilitators to care-seeking among survivors of gender-based violence in the Dadaab refugee complex |
| title_full | Barriers and facilitators to care-seeking among survivors of gender-based violence in the Dadaab refugee complex |
| title_fullStr | Barriers and facilitators to care-seeking among survivors of gender-based violence in the Dadaab refugee complex |
| title_full_unstemmed | Barriers and facilitators to care-seeking among survivors of gender-based violence in the Dadaab refugee complex |
| title_short | Barriers and facilitators to care-seeking among survivors of gender-based violence in the Dadaab refugee complex |
| title_sort | barriers and facilitators to care seeking among survivors of gender based violence in the dadaab refugee complex |
| topic | gender-based violence services care-seeking refugee humanitarian settings dadaab kenya |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/26410397.2020.1722404 |
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