Population Council Research that makes a difference

In Vietnam, the classic pattern of physical and sexual violence is associated with low educational levels of women and their partners; men having more than one partner/wife at the same time; and low household income, frequently a result of unemployment, drug-taking, and gambling. Women victims continue to regard gender-based violence (GBV) as a problem that should be "tolerated." They have tolerated violence for a long time as subjects of repeated and severe attacks, which commonly begin in the first year of marriage. Obstacles to incorporating GBV screening into daily medical practice include lack of training, heavy workload, reluctance of most families to admit a problem exists, and a lack of resources and facilities to support immediate treatment and long-term solutions.

During the first phase of this project, Population Council researchers in Vietnam collaborated with Hanoi Health Service (HHS) to develop a GBV form for health providers to complete when they identify potential victims. The Council also assisted in the development of training-of-trainers course materials, including guidelines for health care providers working with victims of GBV.

During the project's second phase, the Council team assisted HHS in four main activities: training of trainers and technical assistance during subsequent trainings conducted for health providers; developing a training curriculum for the health providers; developing recommended monitoring indicators; and developing integrated GBV and medical service record forms at Duc Giang Hospital. In September 2009, in collaboration with HHS, Council staff conducted an evaluation survey among the staff of Duc Giang Hospital to assess the extent to which awareness and perceptions of GBV had changed since the project commenced in 2005. The survey also assessed the extent to which the response to GBV had been strengthened.

Hospital staff showed a high level of awareness of GBV issues, regardless of gender, marital status, and prior GBV training. Compared to 2005, those surveyed in 2009 were more likely to perceive the severity and health consequences of GBV; agree that the incidence of GBV is increasing; and identify the relationship between husband and wife as the critical factor.

Finally, in the third phase of the project, the Ministry of Health sought further technical assistance from the Council to develop and finalize national guidelines on health care for victims of GBV, and to begin the work of scaling up the training and implementation efforts to the national level. This project, entitled, "Improving quality of healthcare for gender-based violence victims at health facilities in Vietnam," was also intended to further support implementation of the 2007 law, in addition to developing tools to facilitate compilation of information on GBV cases screened by health facilities nationwide. Council staff conducted pre- and post-training assessments during the training of trainers for hospital staff in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City in July 2010.

The 2007 law on domestic violence and the establishment of the Women's Center for Counseling and Health Care have been important steps in integrating GBV screening in health services and increasing access to care for victims of GBV.