Strengthening the Health Care System: Addressing Violence against Women
Mentor Information
Holly Donahue Singh (Judy Genshaft Honors College)
Description
In recent years, the rise of gender-based violence in India has drastically increased. Overarchingly, this phenomenon neglects the needs of Indian women while the health care system disregards a system of medical care that properly addresses survivors of violence. This research is centered around the case study of a constructive model implemented in a Delhi hospital. By actively utilizing trauma-informed care (outlined by the WHO), doctors and hospital staff were able to promote positive health outcomes for women and even identify over 500 cases of abuse, harassment, or gender-based violence within 9 months. By investigating the methods of care within this hospital, it can be identified what this hospital does correctly and how these outcomes can be used as a model for implementing health systems to address violence against women across South Asia. The WHO guidelines for gender-informed care were utilized to structure a clinical case study and spatial analysis. The results of this study indicated that the abolition of the two-finger test, ensuing the L.I.V.E.S protocol, providing resource directories, and ensuring confidentiality were effective practices in this model. The findings of this study could help medical professionals to strengthen the response of health systems for survivors of violence. Ideally, the healthcare spaces could serve as a foremost proponent of improved clinical and psychosocial health outcomes for women.
Strengthening the Health Care System: Addressing Violence against Women
In recent years, the rise of gender-based violence in India has drastically increased. Overarchingly, this phenomenon neglects the needs of Indian women while the health care system disregards a system of medical care that properly addresses survivors of violence. This research is centered around the case study of a constructive model implemented in a Delhi hospital. By actively utilizing trauma-informed care (outlined by the WHO), doctors and hospital staff were able to promote positive health outcomes for women and even identify over 500 cases of abuse, harassment, or gender-based violence within 9 months. By investigating the methods of care within this hospital, it can be identified what this hospital does correctly and how these outcomes can be used as a model for implementing health systems to address violence against women across South Asia. The WHO guidelines for gender-informed care were utilized to structure a clinical case study and spatial analysis. The results of this study indicated that the abolition of the two-finger test, ensuing the L.I.V.E.S protocol, providing resource directories, and ensuring confidentiality were effective practices in this model. The findings of this study could help medical professionals to strengthen the response of health systems for survivors of violence. Ideally, the healthcare spaces could serve as a foremost proponent of improved clinical and psychosocial health outcomes for women.
