Sexual And Gender-based Violence Research Articles

Participatory Arts-based Game Design: Mela, a Serious Game to Address SGBV in Ethiopia

<p>The emerging body of work on participatory game design (PGD) highlights the significance of working with end-users’ voices as the starting point. This is particularly critical in serious games that seek to impact social change in areas such as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). This article, which is based on fieldwork with 16 college instructors in four agricultural colleges in rural Ethiopia, draws together concepts of participatory visual methods (particularly cellphilming), PGD and a game universe perspective to offer an engaging and interactive approach to the design of serious games. We refer to this as ‘Participatory Arts-based Game Design’ (PAGD), an approach that was used to create Mela, a serious game to address SGBV in Ethiopian agriculture colleges. Exploring Mela game’s participatory and engaging design process, this article offers a framework for serious game development to address critical social change issues that go beyond the game itself. It has the potential to not only place the end-users at the centre but to recognize the critical role of engagement and immersivity in a field oriented towards impact and sustainability.</p>

Encounters with kindness: everyday and extraordinary kind interventions in the lives of forced migrant survivors of SGBV

ABSTRACT While much attention is given to understanding the nature of the sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) encountered by forced migrants, far less focus is placed on the actions and experiences that enable them to cope with violence. In this paper, we adopt a novel perspective examining forced migrants’ accounts of kind encounters with strangers who are not obligated to offer assistance. We draw on 166 semi-structured interviews with forced migrant SGBV survivors to examine the nature of kind encounters, the contexts in which they occur, and their reported outcomes. Our analysis reveals that kind encounters manifest across forced migration journeys and range from the extraordinary to the everyday. Kind encounters offer vital help and support and can connect people across cleavages while fostering resistance against degrading heteropatriarchal and bordering practices. The significance that respondents attach to such encounters underscores gaps in humanitarian protection and the normalization of cruelty towards forced migrants. We argue that kind encounters are inherently micropolitical, influencing social relations, and confronting gendered and racialized hierarchies. By uncovering the importance of kind encounters, we present a fresh perspective on the experiences of SGBV in forced migration with much potential in the study of migration.

Esengo ya Bosembo ("Joy of Equity"): Development of an Advocacy Video to Reduce Stigma and to Promote Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women Sex Professionals in Pointe-Noire, Congo Republic.

Sex workers experience elevated risks of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) from intimate partners, clients, and community members that harms health and human rights. While SGBV contributes to poorer sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes among sex workers, including elevated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vulnerabilities, stigma targeting sex workers reduces SRH service access and uptake. The Congo Republic is an exemplar context to address stigma toward sex workers. Sex workers' HIV prevalence (8.1%) in Congo Republic is double the national prevalence, yet research indicates that nearly one-fifth (17.2%) of sex workers in Congo Republic avoid health care because of stigma and discrimination. This Resources, Frameworks, & Perspectives article describes the process of developing Esengo ya Bosembo ("Joy of Equity"), a culturally tailored advocacy video that aims to reduce health care and community stigma toward women sex professionals (e.g., sex workers) in Pointe-Noire, Congo Republic. This knowledge translation product stems from a participatory mapping intervention with sex professionals in Pointe-Noire that revealed the need for sensitization tools and activities to reduce sex work stigma among health care providers and community members. The video incorporates three overarching key messages: (1) sex professionals are human beings with equal rights to dignity, protection, and health services; (2) elevated risks of SGBV and stigma targeting sex workers reduce SRH service access and uptake; and (3) participatory mapping is a potential way to empower sex professionals to share their experiences and recommendations for change. This article details how health promotion practitioners and sex professionals may use the video to advocate for change.

Adaptive religious coping with experiences of sexual and gender-based violence and displacement

Abstract This article examines the religious coping strategies among forced migrant women survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). While it is acknowledged that faith and religion help people to survive crises, the patterns of religious coping with SGBV and displacement are little understood. I explore how displaced women use their faith and religious resources to cope with SGBV and migration-related daily stressors. Using qualitative methods and data collected in Turkey and Tunisia with thirty-eight Levantine and African women, I introduce the concept of adaptive religious coping, which they deployed over time and place as one main coping mechanism in experiences of SGBV and displacement. Survivors used cognitive, behavioural and spiritual/emotional religious coping strategies, drawing on their available religious resources—ideas, practices and experience. The study highlights the importance of religious coping in supporting displaced populations emotionally and spiritually, and offers implications for mental health responses in forced displacement contexts.

Lives and sustenance of migrant Indian women in Indenture and COVID-19

In the early nineteenth century, several indentured laborers and their descendants were exposed to political, social, and cultural shifts and instabilities that perpetuated over the decades. Simultaneously, in the pandemic era of COVID-19 and the colonial period, women workers had to overcome numerous hurdles, as they migrated without proper sustenance. The main objective of this study was to examine the working conditions, physical and psychological conditions, and sustenance of contracted laborers, especially migrant women, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of them are inequality in the labor markets, domestic workloads and workspaces, sexual abuse, mobility crises, child abuse, xenophobic attitudes, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). By adopting a qualitative approach and critical examination, it is observed that the vulnerabilities of low-skilled women, the exploitation of migrant labor, as a matrix of identities, behaviors and power relationships are discernible in capitalist expansion, and the disparities that they induce while taking into account how the market mimics the prevalent sexual division of labor.

Climate Change Exacerbated Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Role of the Feminist Foreign Policy

Feminist foreign policy (FFP) ensures the representation and participation of women both nationally and internationally. Initially, it aimed to focus on some special areas relating to women, peace and security especially sexual violence in conflict and women representation in peace process. Now, the ambit has been broadened and issues relating to climate change are also included. The research has already proved that women suffer double victimization as a consequence of climate change. Climate change exacerbates sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), so, they face all types of consequences of climate change (CC) and natural disasters as human beings but they face SGBV in particular because of their gender. The FFP states respect for international law and efforts to address gender inequalities and violence. Unfortunately, the existing international law e.g. the CEDAW or human rights treaties etc. generally or law on climate change e.g. the UNFCCC, the Paris Agreement etc. specifically do not address the issue. Also, the interlinkage between climate change and SGBV has not been discussed earnestly. The FFP has been consistently pursued at the UNFCCC COP negotiations in the context of climate peace initiative etc and involved women especially local and indigenous in the decision-making process. Thus, the FFP can be one of the strongest global voices to end SGBV by ensuring women’s participation; addressing the legal gap; and advocating for the adoption of the gender-responsive law and policy both nationally and internationally. They can be a leader at the international level and a change-maker at the national level. This study has sought to explain how climate change exacerbated SGBV has emerged as a subject of FFP and how it can address the challenge of SGBV exacerbated by CC, the relevant legal issues therein and the road ahead.

Viable justice: survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and/or torture amongst South Sudanese refugees living in settlements in Northern Uganda

PurposeThe study aimed to listen to refugee survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and/or torture and explore what justice meant to them in exile. This study argues that what the survivors who participated in this research wanted was “viable justice”. The research was funded by the British Academy and Leverhulme Trust.Design/methodology/approachUsing a survivor-focussed justice lens combined with a trauma-informed approach, narrative interviews were held with 41 women and 20 men refugee survivors living in refugee settlements in Northern Uganda. The researchers also conducted semi-structured interviews with 37 key informants including refugee welfare councils, the UN, civil society, non-government and government organisations. Thematic analysis of the data resulted in the following themes being identified: no hope of formal justice for atrocities that occurred in South Sudan; insecurity; lack of confidence in transitional justice processes in Ugandan refugee settlements; abuse and loss of freedom in refugee settlements; and lack of access to health and justice services in refugee settlements.FindingsThis study argues that what the survivors who participated in this research wanted was “viable justice”. That is justice that is survivor-centred and includes elements of traditional and transitional justice, underpinned by social justice. By including the voices of both men and women survivors of SGBV and/or torture and getting the views of service providers and other stakeholders, this paper offers an alternative form of justice to the internationally accepted types of justice, which offer little relevance or restitution to refugees, particularly where the crime has been committed in a different country and where there is little chance that perpetrators will be prosecuted in a formal court of law.Research limitations/implicationsThe research findings are based on a small sample of South Sudanese refugees living in three refugee settlements in Northern Uganda. Thus, wider conclusions should not be drawn. However, the research does suggest that a “viable justice” approach should be implemented that is gender and culturally sensitive and which could also be trialled in different refugee contexts.Practical implicationsImprovements in refugee survivors’ dignity, resilience and recovery are dependent upon the active engagement of refugees themselves using a “survivor-focussed approach” which combines formal and community-based health services with traditional and transitional justice responses.Social implicationsThe provision of a “viable justice approach” ensures those who have experienced SGBV and/or torture, and their families, feel validated. It will assist them to use their internal, cultural and traditional resilience and agency in the process of recovery.Originality/valueThe research findings are original in that data was collected from men and women survivors of SGBV and/or torture and service providers. The empirical evidence supports this study’s recommendation for an approach that combines both formal and survivor-focussed approaches towards health and viable justice services to meet the needs of refugees living in refugee settlements. This is a response that listens to and responds to the needs of refugee survivors in a way that continues to build their resilience and agency and restores their dignity.

Applying ADDIE Model to Develop Multimedia Lessons for Adolescent Reproductive Health Education in Uganda

This study aimed to develop and evaluate a multimedia application intervention for adolescent sexual reproductive health education in secondary schools in Uganda. The lack of access to quality reproductive health education and services, exacerbated by the recent COVID-19 pandemic, contributes to unplanned pregnancies, health complications, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among adolescents in Uganda. Researchers and teachers collaborated to create multimedia lessons covering topics such as sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and SGBV for adolescents in participating schools. The educational content and format were co-designed to better incorporate the local context and address priority issues by involving end users of the software (adolescents and their teachers) as content contributors during the development phase. The innovative multimedia application was developed using the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) model. A student manual was also created as a teaching tool, providing educators with lesson introductions and guiding questions for post-lesson group discussions. The manual includes a simplified print version of the educational content, ensuring that students and teachers in schools without ICT resources can benefit from the intervention. Questionnaires were developed and administered to 14 Results indicate that all 14 trained teachers demonstrated improved knowledge about the use of multimedia applications to deliver adolescent-friendly sexual reproductive health (SRH) education. Additionally, all 14 teachers self-reported that the multimedia application is a feasible and acceptable method to deliver adolescent-friendly SRH education.

Exploring the use of geographic methods to understand sexual- and gender-based violence: a scoping review

Geographic methods of inquiry are being increasingly employed to discern and visualize geographical patterns associated with increased risk of sexual- and gender-based violence (SGBV). As such, this scoping review systematically collated academic literature and subsequently synthesised (1) the time trend of studies employing geographic methods to understand SGBV, (2) the context in which geographic methods are being used to understand SGBV (i.e. objectives), (3) study characteristics, and (4) the methods and data sources used. A total of six databases were searched: Gender Studies, PsychINFO, Scopus, PudMed, Cochrane, and Campbell. Following title-abstract (n = 3354) and full-text screening (n = 159), 42 studies met data extraction criteria. From our review, there is clear momentum in the use of geographic methods to understand trends in SGBV. The majority of studies stated objectives aligning with assessing risk of SGBV (n = 35, 83.3%), while the remaining aimed to assess SGBV service availability. As research expands, there is notable focus on urban and suburban areas and a dominant dependence on institutional data sources (e.g. hospitals and police data), which hold certain caveats when it comes to structural barriers to SGBV data collection, such as fear of reporting and historic distrust in institutional services. Dovetailing the employment of big data sources with community-facilitated SGBV data collection methods may be a promising avenue for neighbourhood-specific efforts to inform policy and practice.

Framing sexual and gender-based violence: Australia Day, nationalism and conservative prime ministerial policy discourse

ABSTRACT Grace Tame’s 2021 Australian of the Year (AOTY) award directed public attention towards sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), as did Australia Day award recipients Donna Carson in 2004 and Rosie Battie in 2015. We use mixed-method textual analysis of a corpus of prime minister’s Australia Day speeches between 1990 and 2021 to show how conservative Liberal Party prime ministers have narrated a discourse of idealised national identity to manage activist demands regarding SGBV policy. We quantitatively find that prime ministers promote masculine and heteronormative representations of Australian identity and then develop a qualitative typology of conservative SGBV frames employed by prime ministers that gloss over SGBV as a pressing and chronic policy issue and position idealised Australian femininity to condone and obscure SGBV. This paper builds upon scholarship on public policy and gendered nationalism to explain this pattern of SGBV problem definition and framing by conservative prime ministers.

University Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring Best Practices.

Addressing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in educational settings across the globe, particularly in institutions of higher education, requires strong institutional framework and policy guidelines. Most research about university SGBV policies has focused on high-income countries with little or no recourse to universities in low- and middle-income countries. This policy analysis aims to analyze existing policies related to SGBV from select sub-Saharan African universities to provide guidance on best practices toward addressing SGBV at universities in Africa. Seven university policies and six national policies from six countries across sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe) were reviewed using a standardized data extraction form. The policy analysis identified eight key elements of policies related to SGBV for sub-Saharan African universities, which were verified using a nominal group technique with five international experts in the field. Overall, policies varied significantly in accessibility, terminology, definitions, format, and inclusivity across the sites. Some of the policies were not readily accessible, and there was limited evidence provided in some of the policy documents. Policies for universities in sub-Saharan Africa should (a) be evidence based, (b) be readily available in multiple formats, (c) define key terms broadly with gendered signifiers, (d) be succinct and concise, (e) incorporate broad definitions for all university stakeholders, (f) identify who created the policy and when, (g) address prevention, and (h) address response. Evidence-based policies addressing SGBV prevention, response, and justice are sorely needed at universities across the globe.

A Critical Analysis of the Prosecution of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence at the International Criminal Court

The prosecution of crimes of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) has remained a challenging issue for international criminal justice. Given that in the past, crimes of sexual violence within the context of international armed conflict were not considered substantive crimes. This is evidenced in the non-prosecution of sexual and gender-based crimes at the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals despite the incontrovertible utilisation of the "comfort women system" in Tokyo during World War II. However, with the emergence of the International Criminal Court(ICC), there seems to be a reasonable but piecemeal progression of the investigation and prosecution of SGBV. Although, previous studies have reported that investigating and gathering evidence for SGBV is a continuing concern within the jurisprudence of the ICC. The recently decided cases at the Court especially demonstrate a development and dynamics in the prosecution of SGBV at the ICC. By employing a doctrinal research method, I spotlight the nuances and hurdles of sexualised crimes within the ICC. The author recommends gender mainstreaming in the investigation and prosecution of sexual violence in order to fill the gap.

Measuring Sexual and Gender-Based Violence at the University of Cape Coast: Developing and Deploying a Campus Climate Survey.

Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a global public health crisis, impacting university youth around the world. The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) determine the best methodology for conducting a campus climate survey at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana and (b) gather data on SGBV knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors from a representative sample of students. This descriptive study included three phases: (a) develop a campus climate survey unique to UCC, (b) develop a sampling methodology, and (c) deploy the first ever campus climate survey at UCC. A 71-item survey was developed and then administered via a student portal to 2,000 students. Of those students, 1,381 (69.1%) responded. Although most students (63.2%) know the university has a sexual harassment policy, fewer have seen it (25.9%) or read it (22.3%). Students held generally positive views of how the university would respond to reports of sexual harassment, although 50.2% of participants believed the reporter would be labeled a troublemaker. More participants reported seeking and giving verbal than nonverbal consent, and more men than women reported both seeking and giving verbal consent. More men than women reported they "always" sought verbal consent (61.2% vs. 47.7%, p = 0.001). Most students ( n = 316, 56.5%) sought verbal consent all of the time, and an additional 99 (17.7%) sought it most of the time. Accurate data about students' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with SGBV policy, prevention, and response are needed globally to better inform locally appropriate practices. Forensic nursing is currently localized in high-income countries. University students' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with SGBV can support the expansion of forensic nursing research and practice to low- and middle-income countries.

Exploring a syndemic of poverty, cumulative violence, and HIV vulnerability among refugee youth: multi-method insights from a humanitarian setting in Uganda

ABSTRACT Synergistic associations between social inequities and HIV vulnerabilities – known as a syndemic – are understudied with youth in humanitarian settings. We explored refugee youths’ HIV prevention needs in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement, Uganda. This multi-methods study involved 6 focus groups and 12 in-depth individual interviews (IDI) with refugee youth (n = 60) aged 16–24, and IDI with refugee elders (n = 8) and healthcare providers (n = 8). We then conducted cross-sectional surveys with refugee youth (16–24 years) (n = 115) to assess: poverty, recent sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and condom engagement motivation (CEM) (wanting to learn about condoms for HIV prevention). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios for associations between poverty and SGBV with CEM. Qualitative narratives revealed poverty and trauma elevated substance use, and these converged to exacerbate SGBV. SGBV and transactional sex increased HIV vulnerabilities. Among survey participants, poverty and recent SGBV were associated with reduced odds of CEM. The interaction between poverty and recent SGBV was significant: the predicted probability of CEM among youth who experienced both poverty and SGBV was almost half than among youth who experienced poverty alone, SGBV alone, or neither. Findings signal the confluence of poverty, violence, and substance use elevate refugee youth HIV vulnerabilities.

Health Providers' Response to Female Adolescent Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and Demand Side Barriers in the Utilization of Support Services in Urban Low-Income Communities of Nigeria.

Survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) are often hindered in their quest to access quality healthcare. This has a significant effect towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal SDG Target 3.7. to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services. This study is focused on identifying some of the demand side barriers in accessing health care services, particularly among young girls who are survivors of SGBV within intimate relationships in poor urban areas in Nigeria. The study used an ethnographic approach to solicit information from health providers, adolescents, and young women (AYW) in 10 low-income communities in two major cities in Nigeria, Ibadan and Lagos. Findings showed that there are structural limitations within the primary health care (PHC) system that posed a great challenge for survivors of SGBV to access services. Some of these include non-existing counseling services, a lack of rehabilitation centers, poor referral, and a lack of training for health providers in handling survivors of SGBV. There is also a lack of skills among health service providers that have negative influence on support services to survivors of SGBV. On the demand side, poor knowledge of possible health seeking pathways, a lack of education, and social support are barriers to accessing appropriate services among adolescent and young SGBV survivors. The study concluded that integrated services at the PHC level should include adequate and timely treatment for survivors of SGBV and targeted intervention to upscale skills and knowledge of health care providers.

Mapping global evidence on injuries/trauma due to sexual and gender-based violence for research prioritisation and development of guidelines to mitigate their impact: a scoping review protocol

BackgroundThe World Health Organization recognises injuries as a growing global public health problem. While there are several causes of injuries and trauma, relevant research is mostly centred on road traffic accidents, burns, and drowning with less focus on violence-related injuries/trauma such as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). To identify priority research topics, prioritisation, and development of practice guidelines to mitigate the impact of injuries/trauma resulting from SGBV, this systematic scoping review will aim to map and describe the range of research relating to injuries/trauma due to SGBV in the global context.MethodsA scoping review guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s methodological framework will be conducted. Literature relating to injuries/trauma and SGBV will be searched in PubMed, SCOPUS, and PsycINFO, CINAHL, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Trip, guideline repositories, websites, and reference list of included articles. This study will include evidence sources focused on the epidemiological burden, guidelines for out-of-hospital and in-hospital care of victims, barriers or facilitators to reporting and obtaining healthcare, and approaches for mitigating injuries/trauma due to SGBV. The search will be limited to publications within 10 years (2012 to 2023). Two authors will apply the eligibility criteria to identify potentially relevant citations. The data will be extracted in duplicate and methodological quality assessed using varied tools (Mixed Method Quality Appraisal Tool; and Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation instrument). The study will be reported in keeping with the Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews.DiscussionThe scoping review will highlight existing literature on injuries/trauma due to SGBV and identify gaps to facilitate research prioritisation, development of guidelines, and resource allocation to alleviate the impact of injuries/trauma resulting from SGBV. This study’s findings will be disseminated via a series of meetings with key stakeholders (local and international) in the field of healthcare, policy, social welfare, GBV interest groups, and others. Also, the final scoping review results will be presented at relevant workshops, meetings, and conferences. Moreover, this study’s findings will be disseminated via journal publications and policy briefs.

Confucianism and China’s Victims of SGBV

The term ‘comfort women’ refers to young Asian females who were forced into prostitution by the Imperial Japanese Army between 1932 and 1945, resulting in gross human rights violations. The paper will explore how pre-existing gender relations and sociocultural dynamics contributed to this violence and will analyse the factors that allowed it to persist. As a conceptual framework, Confucianism, an ancient Chinese belief system that emphasises differentiation of women and men, is used to argue for the facilitation and legitimization of sexual and gender-based violence against Chinese women. Based on arguments of gender hierarchy, the sexual desire of Japanese soldiers, and ethnic victimization, victims faced social ostracization and discrimination. Keywords: Comfort Women, Confucianism, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Gender Inequality

Using Reproductive Health Services to Address Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Post-Conflict Northern Uganda.

Introduction Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including rape and child sexual abuse, remains a significant challenge in post-conflict northern Uganda, including within refugee settlements. Many victims have never sought help from health-related services. Consequently, the scale of the problem is unknown, and SGBV victims’ injuries, both psychological and physical, remain undetected and unaddressed. We hypothesized that health workers in rural Reproductive Health Services could provide a valuable resource for SGBV screening and subsequent referral for support. Methods Our project had three elements. First, Reproductive Health Service workers were trained in the knowledge and skills needed to screen for and identify women who had experienced SGBV, using a questionnaire-based approach. Second, the screening questionnaire was used by reproductive health workers over a 3-month period, and the data analysed to explore the scale and nature of the problem. Third, victims detected were offered referral as appropriate to hospital services and/or the ActionAid SURGE (Strengthening Uganda’s Response to Gender Equality) shelter in Gulu. Results 1656 women were screened. 778 (47%) had a history of SGBV, including 123 victims of rape and 505 victims of non-sexual violence. 1,254 (76%) had been directly or indirectly affected by conflict experiences; 1066 had lived in IDP camps. 145 (9%) were referred at their request to Gulu SGBV Shelter under SURGE. Of these, 25 attended the shelter and received assistance, and a further 20 received telephone counselling. Conclusion Undetected SGBV remains a problem in post-conflict northern Uganda. Reproductive Health Service workers, following specific training, can effectively screen for and identify otherwise unreported and unassisted cases of SGBV. Future work will explore scaling up to include screening in hospital A&E departments, incorporate approaches to screening for male victims, and the impact of taking both screening and support services to rural communities through local clinics with mobile teams.

Assessment of capacity needs of health personnel in management of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Rivers State: a case for health promotion in the era of COVID-19

Sexual and Gender-based violence (SGBV) is a common and serious public health problem affecting millions of Nigerians which COVID-19 has escalated. The capacity of health personnel in managing SGBV survivors should be determined in order to ensure effective health promotion. This paper therefore investigated the capacity needs of health personnel in Rivers State in managing SGBV survivors. The study adopted descriptive survey research design which was carried out during a workshop organized for randomly selected health personnel in the employ of the Rivers State government in August, 2021. The questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection, administered on 40 respondents which included doctors, nurses, community health extension workers (CHEWs) and medical records officers. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study, and data were analysed using mean, percentage and chi-square. The result showed that majority of the respondents (67.5%) needed training on skills of managing SGBV survivors. The hypothesis showed significant difference on the knowledge level of SGBV among nurses and doctors in Rivers State. The study recommended that government and non-governmental organisations should provide health workers in Rivers State with comprehensive capacity training on management of SGBV survivors to achieve health promotion.

Cost-benefit Assessment of Refugee and Asylum-Seeking Women Reporting Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Uganda: Assessing Women’s Resilience as a Means to Protect their Ethno-religious Group

Drawing from fieldwork carried out in Uganda, this empirical study is an enquiry into women’s resilience in the face of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in the country. It asks why, and when, refugee and asylum-seeking women decide to report (or not report) SGBV. It also enquires into the issues that determine when they do so. The article shows that many participants did not report cases of SGBV because of their concerns about protecting their ethno-religious group and avoiding further discrimination and villainisation of their communities. Survivors are also confronted with the ineffectiveness of retributive justice, which is slow to punish perpetrators. This has led to the establishment of a plea-bargaining system in the country, although this also falls short of securing justice for SGBV survivors. Therefore, survivors often turn to their communities to deal with instances of SGBV. However, most of these community-based mechanisms reinforce patriarchal discrimination and violence and often disregard women’s well-being, interests, and fundamental rights. Women also have to deal with patriarchal pressure that places the responsibility for community cohesion on the woman, as part of her traditional role. This inhibits the ability to make a free and personal choice that could benefit women as a social group.