Help-Seeking Pathways and Barriers for ... - EngenderHealth

It is not very often [to seek legal assistance]; most cases [that involve married women]
are resolved at the local government offices. If you see her going to a police station it
means she is severely wounded and needs a PF3 for medical attention.
Female PFG participant (18-24 years old), Iringa
Sometimes if she has been beaten by her husband…she will go to the ten cell leader or
neighbor...the ten cell leader will solve your case but if he didn’t manage to do so, then
you go to your husband’s parents to report. If he [husband] doesn’t listen to them, then
you pack your things and go back to your parents.
Female PFG participant (25+ years old), Mbeya
…they [elders] will say that this is your man. They will sit down and resolve it by telling
the man [husband] that you should stay like this and this with your wife and that is it.
Female PFG participant (25+ years old), Mbeya
Rape perpetrated by a stranger
The maps depicting rape by a stranger are slightly more likely to highlight the legal and
justice sector, although the differences were not dramatic. Even in the case of rape, the
diagrams suggest that because of shame and stigma, pathways may still end at the level of
family or friends. While rape of a child is clearly a reportable offence, once again age
appears to be a barrier to help-seeking for older women:
For a woman who is 60 years old, she will feel shy to report rape. She might not report
it anywhere, fearing that people might think that they had an agreement before and she
is now trying to pretend she was forced. It is a big shame for a woman of 60 years old
to report that she was raped.
Male PFG Participant (18-24years old), Mbeya
Healthcare reserved for “severe” physical injuries
While hospitals and other health facilities were consistently included in the maps of survivor
pathways, ensuing discussions made it clear that survivors seek help from healthcare
providers only for severe physical injuries, or, in cases of rape, when they require forensic
evidence to pursue legal action. The circuitous route described above, however, may delay a
survivor from quickly accessing the care she needs and compromise collection of the
required evidence, as reflected in the following quote.
In some cases after going to the police, they might require some evidence which can be
facilitated at the hospital. As you can see…a person might go on the next day, and the
hospital might not be able to pick the evidence required.
Service Provider, Dar es Salaam
Help-Seeking Pathways and Barriers for Survivors of GBV in Tanzania March 2013
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