Gender and Health Research Unit

South African Gender-based Violence and Health Initiative

The South African Gender-based Violence and Health Initiative (SAGBVHI) is a national, specialist partnership of organisations and individuals working on gender-based violence and health issues. With funding from the Rockefeller Foundation, the partnership formally constituted itself as SAGBVHI in December 2000.

Recognising civil society's focus on addressing gender-based violence within the criminal justice and welfare system, SAGBVHI has earmarked the health sector as its primary area of intervention. Through partnership with individuals, organisations and institutions across sectors, SAGBVHI aims to build the health sector's capacity to respond sensitively, appropriately and effectively to gender-based violence.

Recent highlights
In 2001-2003 SAGBVHI (The South African Gender-based Violence and Health Initiative) conducted a situation analysis of sexual assault services nationally. The aims of the study were to describe how sexual assault services are currently delivered in the public health sector and to explore factors that are associated with a higher quality of care.

Standardized interviews were conducted with 124 nurses and doctors in a stratified sample of hospitals (n =31) as well as 31 nurses in primary health care clinics nationally. Service providers were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire that consisted of open- and closed-ended questions. The questionnaire contained five sections: demographic characteristics of providers; rape service provision; availability of protocols; rape training undergone; and the knowledge and attitudes of staff.

Since rape case records were not comparable between provinces (in some facilities record-keeping was done systematically while in other facilities it was chaotic and not accessible) we relied on self-reported management of rape patients. A facility checklist was made at the sampled health facilities, which detailed the presence or absence of equipment and drugs as well as structural issues such as the availability of private examination rooms. Analysis of data will include bivariate analysis (Chi2) and a logistic regression model, exploring factors associated with higher quality of care.

See report for details: The state of sexual assault services: Findings from a situation analysis of services in South Africa (pdf format, 220 kb)

Objectives

• To strengthen national research agendas on gender-based violence.
• To raise awareness at all levels in the health sector of the importance of gender-based violence as a public health issue.
• To promote the development of capacity in the health sector, with both in-service staff and students, to respond effectively to gender-based violence.
• To monitor the implementation of policies, programmes and protocols within the health sector.

Activities

• Research: Our research includes the 'Situational analysis of medico-legal services for rape and domestic violence survivors. Other research activities include capacity building through provision of support during protocol development, and supporting gender-based violence research through a small grants scheme.
• Advocacy: Advocacy is achieved during parliamentary hearings and annual conferences, and through networking and partnership building with different stakeholders
• Training: This is achieved through providing support for training curricula for health care providers.

Structure
SAGBVHI consists of the following:

• Steering committee: Provides technical support for implementation of activities and profiling initiatives with potential donors.
• Management committee: Provides organisational management.
• Research committee: Plans research projects, provides capacity for development of research protocols and manages the small grants award.
• Advocacy committee: Identifies areas for intervention and coordinates SAGBVHI's annual conference.
• Trainingcommittee: Provides support for curriculum development within the medical and nursing professions.

Workshops and conferences
One of the first activities of SAGBVHI was to jointly host a workshop with the National Department of Health. The aim of the workshop was to identify gaps and develop an agenda for training, research and advocacy activities for the health sector in South Africa to address gender-based violence. The workshop report is available: The state of sexual assault services: Findings from a situation analysis of services in South Africa (pdf format, 220 kb)

The 1^st South African Gender-Based Violence and Health conference was held in April 2002 in Muldersdrift, Gauteng.

The 2^nd South African Gender-Based Violence and Health conference was held in May 2003 in Gauteng.

Founder members and organisations

• The Medical Research Council
• The Soul City Institute for Health Development Communication
• The University of Cape Town's Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
• The University of Cape Town's Department of Nursing and Midwifery
• The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
• The Empilisweni-Woodlands AIDS Education and Training Centre
• The Health Systems Development Unit
• AMREF South Africa
• The Ciskei Nursing College
• The Planned Parenthood Association of South Africa (PPASA)
• The Centre for Health Policy

Contact details
Private Bag X385, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa
Tel: +27 12 339-8554, Fax: +27 12 339-8582
Email: nicola.chris@mrc.ac.za