Management of Gender Based Violence: challenges faced by psychosocial and medical practitioners in Nairobi Women's Hospital

Abstract

The research focused on the management of GBV: challenges faced by the medical and psychosocial practitioners in Nairobi Women's Hospital. The study also sought to find out the following: the extent to which financial constraints hinder effective management of GBV, to establish GBV training needs of medical and psychosocial practitioners in Nairobi Women's Hospital, the adequacy of health facilities in management of GBV in Nairobi Women's Hospital and the interventions that can be adopted to manage the challenges facing the management of gender based violence in the hospital. The study employed a case study research design. Purposive and census techniques were used to arrive at the sample population. In total there were thirty five respondents (n=35). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, employing both quantitative approach and qualitative approach.

Data from questionnaires were purely analysed quantitatively, and presented in frequencies and percentages while that which was collected through the interview method were analysed qualitatively. From the analysis, the study found out that: Inadequate finance has negative effects on the management of Gender Based Violence at Nairobi Women's Hospital. It reduces the probability of the hospital to implement innovative strategies that are concerned with the management of GBV.

The training offered by the hospital in the management ofGBV is not adequate. There are key areas of training needs among psychosocial and medical practitioners in the hospital. The hospital also lacks adequate human and physical resources to manage effectively the victims and patients of Gender Based Violence. The study recommends that the hospital's management, government, NGOs and local communities to work together towards establishing sound legal and policy framework to manage the challenges facing the management of GBV. The management in partnership with other players should put in place internal GBV management strategies on financial mobilization, staff-training programs and facility-building mechanisms.