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

Executive Summary
During the last few decades, gender-based violence (GBV) has gained international
recognition as a grave social and human rights concern. In Tanzania, GBV is widespread;
the most recent Tanzania and Demographic Health Survey (TDHS) found that 44% of evermarried
women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner
in their lifetime. 1 In response to the high prevalence of violence and inadequate support
services for survivors of GBV, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)
has launched a multi-sectoral intervention in three regions of the country: Dar es Salaam,
Iringa, and Mbeya. The five objectives of the intervention are to:
Increase the availability, quality, and utilization of GBV services;
Reduce societal acceptance of GBV and strengthen protective factors;
Improve the enabling/policy environment for the GBV response;
Improve coordination of the national GBV response; and
Improve the GBV evidence base.
To inform the design of PEPFAR’s initiative by its implementing partners, the International
Center for Research on Women (ICRW) and the Department of Sociology and Anthropology
within the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) conducted a qualitative study in the three
targeted regions. The study aimed to document community perceptions and attitudes about
GBV, identify the range of informal and formal services currently available to GBV survivors,
highlight gaps in service provision, and provide recommendations for improving existing
services.
For this study, GBV was defined as violence perpetrated against women and was limited to
physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, and sexual violence perpetrated by
anyone, including strangers, acquaintances, neighbors, and family members.
The research team conducted 104 key informant interviews (KIIs) with a wide array of
stakeholders, service providers, and duty bearers at the national, district, and ward levels
as well as participatory focus group discussions (PFGs) with 96 male and female community
members.
Key Findings
Many acts of violence are considered socially acceptable.
Overall, respondents had a relatively high awareness of what constitutes GBV, and were
able to list a range of violent behaviors. However, participants identified many types of GBV
that were perceived to be acceptable within their communities’ social and cultural norms.
Respondents across sex and age groups also described a common set of violent acts
regarded as “unacceptable” or “extreme” that merit a response such as reporting the
incident to the police or other help-seeking channels. The unacceptable forms of GBV
1 National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) & ICF Macro. (2011). Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey 2010.
Dar es Salaam: NBS and ICF Macro.
Help-Seeking Pathways and Barriers for Survivors of GBV in Tanzania March 2013
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