Domestic violence in Mozambique: from policy to practice

Abstract

Background To reduce the impact of domestic violence (DV), Mozambican governmental and non-governmental entities are making efforts to strengthen the legislative framework and to improve the accessibility of care services for survivors of violence. Despite this remarkable commitment, the translation of policies and legislation into actions remains a considerable challenge. Therefore, this paper aims to identify gaps in the implementation of existing national policies and laws for DV in the services providing care for survivors of DV. Methods This qualitative study comprised of two approaches. The first consisted of content analysis of guidelines and protocols for DV care provision. The second consisted of in-depth interviews with institutional gender focal points (Professionals with experience in dealing with aspects related to DV). The analysis of the document content was based on a framework developed according to key elements recommended by international agencies (PAHO and UN) for design of DV policies and strategies. Data from the in-depth interviews, where analysed in accordance with the study objectives. Results Eleven (11) guidelines/protocols of care provision and innumerable brochures and pamphlets were identified and analysed. There is a standardised form which contains fields for police and the health sector staff to complete, but not for Civil Society Organisations. However, there is no specific national DV database. Although the seventeen (17) focal points interviewed recognised the relevance of the reviewed documents, many identified gaps in their implementation. This was related to the weaknesses of the offender’s penalisation and to the scarcity of care providers who often lack appropriate training. The focal points also recognised their performance is negatively influenced by socio-cultural factors. Conclusion Within services providing care to survivors of DV, a scarcity of guidelines and protocols exist, compromising the quality and standardisation of care. The existence of guidelines and protocols was regarded as a strength, however its implementation is still problematic. There was also recognition for the need to strengthening by governmental and non-governmental entities the defined policies and strategies for DV prevention and control into practice.

Domestic violence and social services in Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Nigeria: Comparative study

“…4). Additionally, a recent study by Jethá et al (2021) revealed the absence of a specific national DV database in the country under examination. Establishing clear laws and promoting awareness of social services are essential in combating domestic violence within families and society as a whole.…”

Validation of women abuse screening tool (WAST-S) in the Mozambique National Health Service (significance for HIV prevention and ART treatment Adherence): A quasi-experimental crossover study

“…While the global prevalence of IPV is estimated at about 30%, it is particularly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, where the overall prevalence is 36%. Compared to the rest of the world, women in sub-Saharan Africa are more affected by domestic violence than men (Jethá et al, 2021). In some southern African countries, levels of sexual abuse of women are even higher (Ahinkorah et al, 2018).…”

“…Generally, IPV disproportionately affects more women than men. Worldwide, one in three women has been physically and/or sexually abused by her intimate partner or family members at some point in her lifetime, compromising their physical, mental, and reproductive health (Jethá et al, 2021). Violence in intimate partner relationships is usually attributed to gender norms that promote male dominance over women and women's acquiescence to male power (Shai et al, 2019).…”

“…Their main limitation is that they do not involve specific instruments for IPV screening and diagnosis. Another limitation is that cases of IPV may be underreported and neglected (Jethá et al, 2021) due to concealment, subtle or absent overt signs of violence, or failure to recognize that a relationship is abusive. Nevertheless, the trauma inflicted on the victims, ranging from gastrointestinal disturbances, chronic pain, and cardiovascular problems to spontaneous abortions, suicides, and depression (Stephenson et al, 2013;Tura and Licoze, 2019), suggests the need for proper screening of all patients (universal screening), including asymptomatic individuals whose suffering may have been triggered by IPV.…”

Frequency of different types of intimate partner violence in selected health units of the National Health Service of Mozambique: A retrospective study

“…Despite numerous intervention efforts over the last decade, the burden of IPV continues to grow (Stöckl et al, 2014). IPV is particularly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa where the overall prevalence is 36%; compared to the rest of the world, sub-Saharan African women are more affected by domestic violence than men (Jethá et al, 2021), and women are more likely to be injured by intimate partners, suffer from more severe IPV types, and are more likely to fear for their lives than male victims (Fanslow et al, 2023). In Mozambique, for example, 40% of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) reported the experience of physical, sexual or emotional violence perpetrated by an intimate male partner in the last 12 months (Tura and Licoze, 2019).…”