Peer-reviewed article
Strategies for preventing gender-based violence in healthcare services: Evidence synthesis for health policy.
Del Risco Sánchez O, Zambrano E, Rodrigues L, Daluia NQ, Surita FG ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This evidence synthesis examines strategies to prevent gender-based violence in healthcare settings. The review analyzed 24 systematic reviews, mostly from high-income countries, and found that screening programs, educational initiatives, counseling, and advocacy interventions show promise in reducing violence against women and adolescents. The authors conclude that effective approaches require collaborative follow-up of survivors, culturally sensitive methods, and strategies centered on women's needs and equity.
Key points
- 24 systematic reviews of gender-based violence interventions in healthcare settings were analyzed
- Screening strategies are most commonly implemented in healthcare services frequented by women, especially sexual and reproductive health settings
- Interventions combining education, counseling, and advocacy show promising results
- Most evidence comes from high-income countries with diverse tools and methods
- Culturally sensitive, women-centered approaches are necessary to prevent intergenerational transmission of violence
Limitations
The review does not specify which countries were included in the analyzed systematic reviews beyond noting they are mostly high-income settings. The document does not provide specific outcome measures, effect sizes, or quantitative results from the individual studies reviewed.
Abstract
Background Violence against women remains a serious public health problem and a violation of human rights that affects women's health. Healthcare providers play a fundamental role in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls. Objectives This study analyzes strategies for preventing gender-based violence in healthcare services, focusing on identifying best practices for implementing evidence-based interventions in these settings. Search strategy The review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute's method for umbrella reviews and the Evidence Synthesis for Health Policy. A comprehensive search strategy was applied across eight databases. Selection criteria Secondary studies of interventions that address gender-based violence in healthcare settings for women and adolescents of reproductive age were included in this review. Two reviewers independently screened the studies and assessed their quality. Data collection and analysis Narrative synthesis was performed to summarize the evidence. Main results A total of 24 systematic reviews conducted in healthcare settings were analyzed, most of them from high-income countries with diverse tools and methods. Screening strategies are implemented, particularly among at-risk populations in healthcare settings most frequented by women, such as sexual and reproductive services. Initiatives that include educational elements, counseling, and advocacy interventions show promising results. Conclusion Collaborative strategies in healthcare settings that guarantee the follow-up of the survivors, the mitigation of gender-based violence consequences, and its intergenerational transmission are necessary. Culturally sensitive strategies based on women-centered, diversity, and equity approaches must guide the implementation of the interventions.