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

Corruption was once again cited as a problematic barrier in seeking help from the legal
system. Respondents in a PFG with older women in Dar es Salaam explicitly described how
corruption interferes with a survivor’s ability to access justice.
Sometimes the police would say, “I am not going to open a case file for you. All I have
to do is to make sure this matter is resolved right here.” And he will threaten you by
saying that if you go to court, you will lose. That is when he has already received some
bribe.
The legal entities should interfere in solving this problem. We have seen many cases not
being reported, and even when reported to the police, victims might be threatened and
forced to agree to a compensation which denies them justice. Money is all that matters;
nothing will be done if you do not have it.
Female PFG participants (25+ years old), Dar es Salaam
Finally, the legal code itself imposes a structural barrier, in that marital rape is not a
criminal offense and even other forms of violence (e.g., emotional and psychological
violence) are not clearly defined in the Penal Code.
That is where the problem starts; legally you are supposed to report at a police station,
but when you go there you might be told that is not a crime. So where would we go
Female PFG participant (18-24 years old), Dar es Salaam
Health sector
As described in Part III Section C, the necessity of obtaining a PF3 before receiving specific
GBV-related services has an acute effect on patterns of survivors’ help-seeking within the
health sector. Comments from key informants and female community members suggest
that women feel they must chose: a) not to disclose that their injuries are the result of GBV
and receive medical treatment specific to their injuries (at cost); or b) report the incidence
of GBV, which requires obtaining a PF3 from the police and opening a file against the
perpetrator. The former option results in inadequate care, and prevents the health system
from accurately tracking treatment of GBV-related cases. If survivors select the latter
option, the quality of care received may be jeopardized (and delayed) by the lack of
payment, and, in the case of intimate partner violence, women may experience stigma and
marginalization for their decision to report. Even in the case where survivors should be
provided services free of charge due to their economic status, study findings highlight how
corruption and institutional norms may obstruct the provision of free services. 25 The
excerpts below provide further insight into these two options to receiving healthcare for
GBV.
You cannot go to the hospital without a PF3, [but without a PF3] she cannot be treated
unless she lies.
Service Provider, Mbeya
25 While respondents often referred to “hospitals” when discussing barrier to receiving care, this is the
generic term used to refer to any health facility including dispensaries, health centers, etc.
Help-Seeking Pathways and Barriers for Survivors of GBV in Tanzania March 2013
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