Implementing Multiple Gender Strategies to Improve HIV and ... - ICRW

Evaluation Results
Project reach: LVCT monitoring data from 2004 show that:
• 4,000 survivors of sexual violence have been seen at partner health
facilities.
• 802 health care workers have been trained (490 female, 312 male).
• 202 police officers have been trained (59 female, 143 male).
• 101 local administrators have been sensitized (36 female, 65 male).
• 482 community stakeholders have been sensitized (269 female, 213
male).
Replication and
Scale-up Activities
From the three original sites the project has scaled up to 12 districts.
Also, a costing study has been finalized in conjunction with the Ministry of
Public Health and Sanitation Division of Reproductive Health, which
demonstrates the ability of government to take on the program and scale
up services.
LESSONS LEARNED AND CHALLENGES
Key Findings and
Lessons
• Using multiple gender strategies enhances referrals and replicability
and ensures gender is addressed in all trainings. Accounting for gender
issues ensures that sexual violence is not seen as a “women’s issue,”
but as a societal issue that affects all.
• In addition to direct services for survivors, it is important to consider
targeted interventions for the community, the police, health providers,
and policymakers.
• Gender-based programming is a long-term issue that needs to be
integrated broadly in various trainings and education institutions.
• Community support of the program is crucial.
• Post-rape clients who access counseling early are more likely to
adhere to HIV prevention drugs.
• There is a need to develop health care and legal guidelines for
managing survivors of sexual violence.
• A national policy framework on gender-based violence is necessary to
link post-rape services with other relevant programs.
Challenges and
Unforeseen
Outcomes
• Survivors of sexual violence may be reluctant to seek health services
out of fear that the case may end up in the formal courts.
• Many survivors do not report incidents of sexual violence. Reporting
such an experience could reduce a woman’s chances of getting
married and increase the possibility of being ostracized by the rest of
the community.
• There are minimal reliable and relevant data on sexual violence.
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