Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of Colombia
Abstract Background This study explores the impacts of attacks perpetrated in the context of armed conflict, to female health workers in three Colombian territories. Methods We conducted a document review of the reports and databases of the Colombian Truth Commission, 17 in-depth semi-structured int...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2024-04-01
|
| Series: | Conflict and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-024-00582-9 |
| _version_ | 1797219815313637376 |
|---|---|
| author | María Esperanza Echeverry-López Alejandra Marín-Uribe Isabel C. Garcés-Palacio Yadira Borrero-Ramírez Dora María Hernández-Holguin Carlos Iván Pacheco-Sánchez Rohini J. Haar |
| author_facet | María Esperanza Echeverry-López Alejandra Marín-Uribe Isabel C. Garcés-Palacio Yadira Borrero-Ramírez Dora María Hernández-Holguin Carlos Iván Pacheco-Sánchez Rohini J. Haar |
| author_sort | María Esperanza Echeverry-López |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background This study explores the impacts of attacks perpetrated in the context of armed conflict, to female health workers in three Colombian territories. Methods We conducted a document review of the reports and databases of the Colombian Truth Commission, 17 in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts on the national and regional armed conflict and the medical mission, and 26 female health workers who were victims of attacks. Results Experts and female health workers reported attacks to health activities, facilities, equipment, and personnel, including attacks to traditional doctors belonging to indigenous communities. The most frequent attacks were threats and retention of health personnel; theft of supplies and medicines; damage and use of infrastructure and means of transport for purposes other than health care; and hinderance of health service provision. The attacks occurred in a framework of structural violence that intersects with poverty, racism, and gender bias. The impacts of these attacks include gender-based violence, significant disruption of the lives of health workers, and physical, emotional, psychological, social, and economic effects on the victims and their families. The government response to protect victims and populations has been absent or insufficient. Conclusions Attacks to health care were reported in all the studied territories obstructing adequate health care. Impacts of these attacks affect negatively the professional and personal life of the workers and are aggravated by structural violence and absent or little institutional response. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:39:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1b2bad1940940b5ad24588234e881ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-1505 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T12:39:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conflict and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1b2bad1940940b5ad24588234e881ef2024-04-07T11:20:36ZengBMCConflict and Health1752-15052024-04-0118111210.1186/s13031-024-00582-9Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of ColombiaMaría Esperanza Echeverry-López0Alejandra Marín-Uribe1Isabel C. Garcés-Palacio2Yadira Borrero-Ramírez3Dora María Hernández-Holguin4Carlos Iván Pacheco-Sánchez5Rohini J. Haar6Health Management and Policies Research Group, School of Public Health, Universidad de Antioquia UdeAHealth Management and Policies Research Group, School of Public Health, Universidad de Antioquia UdeAEpidemiology Group, School of Public Health, Universidad de Antioquia UdeAHealth Management and Policies Research Group, School of Public Health, Universidad de Antioquia UdeAMental Health Research Group, School of Public Health, Universidad de Antioquia UdeAHealth Policy Research Group, Department of Sociology, Universidad Nacional de Colombia –Sede BogotáBerkeley. School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, University of CaliforniaAbstract Background This study explores the impacts of attacks perpetrated in the context of armed conflict, to female health workers in three Colombian territories. Methods We conducted a document review of the reports and databases of the Colombian Truth Commission, 17 in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts on the national and regional armed conflict and the medical mission, and 26 female health workers who were victims of attacks. Results Experts and female health workers reported attacks to health activities, facilities, equipment, and personnel, including attacks to traditional doctors belonging to indigenous communities. The most frequent attacks were threats and retention of health personnel; theft of supplies and medicines; damage and use of infrastructure and means of transport for purposes other than health care; and hinderance of health service provision. The attacks occurred in a framework of structural violence that intersects with poverty, racism, and gender bias. The impacts of these attacks include gender-based violence, significant disruption of the lives of health workers, and physical, emotional, psychological, social, and economic effects on the victims and their families. The government response to protect victims and populations has been absent or insufficient. Conclusions Attacks to health care were reported in all the studied territories obstructing adequate health care. Impacts of these attacks affect negatively the professional and personal life of the workers and are aggravated by structural violence and absent or little institutional response.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-024-00582-9Medical missionArmed conflictInternational humanitarian lawColombiaWomenHealth impacts |
| spellingShingle | María Esperanza Echeverry-López Alejandra Marín-Uribe Isabel C. Garcés-Palacio Yadira Borrero-Ramírez Dora María Hernández-Holguin Carlos Iván Pacheco-Sánchez Rohini J. Haar Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of Colombia Conflict and Health Medical mission Armed conflict International humanitarian law Colombia Women Health impacts |
| title | Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of Colombia |
| title_full | Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of Colombia |
| title_fullStr | Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of Colombia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of Colombia |
| title_short | Impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of Colombia |
| title_sort | impacts of attacks to female health care workers in three territories of colombia |
| topic | Medical mission Armed conflict International humanitarian law Colombia Women Health impacts |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-024-00582-9 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariaesperanzaecheverrylopez impactsofattackstofemalehealthcareworkersinthreeterritoriesofcolombia AT alejandramarinuribe impactsofattackstofemalehealthcareworkersinthreeterritoriesofcolombia AT isabelcgarcespalacio impactsofattackstofemalehealthcareworkersinthreeterritoriesofcolombia AT yadiraborreroramirez impactsofattackstofemalehealthcareworkersinthreeterritoriesofcolombia AT doramariahernandezholguin impactsofattackstofemalehealthcareworkersinthreeterritoriesofcolombia AT carlosivanpachecosanchez impactsofattackstofemalehealthcareworkersinthreeterritoriesofcolombia AT rohinijhaar impactsofattackstofemalehealthcareworkersinthreeterritoriesofcolombia |