Mr Samuel Jinadu, a clinical psychologist, with Karu General Hospital, Abuja, on Thursday said promoting positive gender norms would help mitigate Gender Based Violence (GBV) in rural communities.
GBV is described as “acts that inflict physical, mental or sexual harm or suffering, threats of such acts, coercion and other deprivations of liberty”.
Jinadu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that GBV was rooted in traditional gender norms, hence the need to proffer interventions at community level.
He described GBV as any form of violence directed to an individual based on their biological sex, gender identity or expression which includes physical, sexual, psychological abuse, threats and coercion, among others.
The clinical psychologist listed gender based violence to include domestic violence, battering and sexual abuse such as cases of rape, among others.
He identified gender norm interventions at the community level to include behavioural change communication targeting harmful gender norms.
“Gender norms intervention would educate and increase the knowledge of community members on harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, wife inheritance, child trafficking and girl-child marriage.
“Building the capacity of health workers to integrate GBV and gender norms information into health talks, providing non-stigmatising clinical care, psycho-social counseling, HIV and STI screening, medications and appropriate referrals.
“Collaborating with law enforcement agencies, social workers, healthcare workers, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for referrals of GBV survivors for legal services and child support services,’’ he said.
Jinadu said such positive interventions could be promoted through various platforms such as community support group meetings, traditional and religious leaders, adolescent forums, healthcare facilities and caregivers.
He said that lack of reportage had contributed to the extremely low awareness of GBV by community members and the inability of hospital staff to identify GBV cases when presented at facilities.
The expert further called on government and stakeholders to improve on identification and documentation of GBV cases at hospitals in the communities.
Others include training and awareness creation activities focused on correcting altitudes, practices and traditions that contribute to GBV as well as proper reportage of such cases. (NAN)
