Assessing gender-based violence among Rohingya refugees during COVID-19: A qualitative study in Bangladesh
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https://doi.org/10.71350/3062192512Keywords:
GBV, Rohingya refugees, COVID-19, IPV, humanitarianAbstract
Rohingya refugee women in Bangladesh are now at higher risk of gender-based violence (GBV) due to COVID-19. This qualitative study examines socio-cultural, economic, and structural aspects affecting Rohingya women’s GBV throughout the pandemic. This study employed phenomenological research design and purposively hired 15 health workers-Health coordinators, Care workers, and Mental health counselors to get the experiences of the survivors. According to thematic research, the following factors may enhance IPV and other kinds of GBV: They are the levels of lockdown, economic factors, and restrictions on support services respectively. Some of the limitations highlighted by focus group members when a study was freely rebuilt and enlarged were; gender norms stand traditional gender norms, mobility and mobile communication as barriers to reporting and receiving support. Disruptions in basic GBV services were especially traumatic since survivors who needed psychosocial and medical support stayed with their abusers. The findings suggest culturally competent and gender-sensitive interventions and public health policies to sustain GBV-related services in emergencies. Policies drawn include telemedicine, cultural suspicion under patriarchal thought leadership, and survivor-oriented support systems. Displacement, self-reported health, and systems relevant for violence prevention for women refugees are presented in the provided study.
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