Other
On the frontlines of support: Tanzanian service providers' experiences delivering services to survivors of violence against women and girls- A qualitative study
Mushi D, Ishungisa AM, Bukundi E, Kagaigai A, Likindikoki S et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view ·Key points
Limitations
Abstract
Abstract Background Violence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a major public health and human rights concern globally and in Tanzania. In response to this, Tanzania, through its National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children (NPA-VAWC), has stipulated strategies aimed at ending violence against women and girls. Among other implementation approaches stipulated in the Tanzanian NPA-VAWC, it is to strengthen coordinated multisectoral services for survivors of VAWG. Although these policies and national frameworks have been developed to improve service delivery for survivors of VAWG, the effectiveness of service delivery largely depends on frontline service providers' experiences, capacities, and working environments. Therefore, exploring their experiences, the facilitators, barriers, and the strategies to address them is essential for strengthening the effectiveness of multisectoral services for survivors of VAWG in Tanzania. Method A qualitative research design was employed. Participants included multisectoral key service providers who deliver care and support to survivors of VAWG across five regions in Tanzania. We conducted (n=25) individual semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was conducted. Results Participants shared individual clients' outcomes and organizational factors that facilitated their service provision to survivors of VAWG. These include knowledge and skills in handling survivors, as well as improvements in survivors' physical and psychosocial well-being following service provision. Likewise, participants reported perceived challenge factors at the individual, family, community, and structural levels. These include survivors' delayed seeking of services, particularly for time-bound services, such as post-exposure prophylaxis care and financial and resource support for service provision. Nevertheless, participants proposed strategies to address perceived challenges in providing services to survivors of VAWG. These include continuing to raise community awareness on VAWG and improving infrastructure and budget for the provision of services for survivors of VAWG. Conclusion These findings indicate both the promise and the complexity of service providers' experience in delivering services to survivors of VAWG. While service providers reported facilitators such as survivors' physical and psychosocial well-being outcomes and their capacity in handling survivors of VAWG, survivors delayed in seeking services, and financial and resource needs for support services continued hindering their effectiveness in service provision. Nevertheless, they proposed strategies to enhance certain facilitators and overcome certain challenges. Therefore, there is a need to address the facilitators, barriers, and strategies of these service providers to strengthen frontline services for survivors of VAWG in response to the Tanzania NPA-VAWC, which calls for multi-sector engagement in the prevention and response to VAWG.