Confronting Gender Based Violence Global Lessons for Healthcare Workers

This course introduces participants from the healthcare sector to gender based violence (GBV), including global epidemiology of GBV; health outcomes; seminal research; and clinical best practices for GBV prevention, support, and management. A core curriculum is supplemented by lectures that contextualize the content with specific examples and programs from around the world. The core curriculum introduces learners to a global perspective on gender based violence (GBV), and includes a review with Dr. Claudia Garcia-Moreno of the new WHO guidelines on responding to violence. Students who wish to receive Honors Recognition will complete the honors module, which expands on the core material and highlights special circumstances and programs. This is an in-depth course with 2 components:

1. Core curriculum introduces GBV from a global perspective, with an emphasis on ensuring a strong health sector response to GBV and teaching key competencies for social workers, physicians, nurses, midwives, community health workers, counselors, and other healthcare workers. Completion of the core content is required for students to pass the course.
2. Honors curriculum offered by experts from around the world helps students dive deeper into certain issues, and touches on unique populations and specialized topics. Completion of Honors curriculum is required for those students who wish to receive a Certificate of Accomplishment with Honors.

After taking the course, students will be able to: ● Describe the global epidemiology of leading forms of GBV and the evidence linking GBV to poor health. ● Articulate the challenges, strategies, and WHO guidelines for integrating GBV response within the health sector. ● Describe the components of a comprehensive clinical assessment, treatment, and management of a GBV survivor. ● Describe the appropriate psychosocial support and management of a GBV survivor.

Module 1 – Introduction to GBV- Epidemiology and Health Impact GBV comes in a variety of forms, each with health consequences for the survivor. An understanding of these issues helps inform a comprehensive and multi-sectorial response for preventing and responding to GBV.

Module 2 – Health Care Response, Screening, and Psychosocial Support Recognition of health impacts of GBV has led to calls to address GBV within the health sector. Support for GBV survivors extends beyond clinical exam and assessment. Safety planning, harm reduction, and access to psychosocial support must be ensured.

Module 3 – Clinical Care for GBV Survivors Caring for GBV survivors requires compassionate, confidential, and nondiscriminatory clinical assessment. Competent medical and forensic examination, along with appropriate documentation, is essential.

Honors Module – In-Depth Information and Special Topics This module provides additional materials for those who wish to explore specialized topics and gain a more advanced grasp of the complexities of addressing gender-based violence. Core course topics are expanded upon, and special populations and programs are highlighted. Special topics include violence in humanitarian settings, against adolescents and sex workers, and human trafficking. Further information is provided on epidemiology, policy, and ethical guidelines, as well as the use of mHealth in GBV screening and care. We’ll cover the unique challenges of GBV research, and explore programs that encourage men and boys to be engaged in the prevention of violence against women.

Acknowledgments This course is a project of the Johns Hopkins Center for Clinical Global Health Education. We would like to gratefully acknowledge the following collaborators:

● Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes (CEHAT) ● International Center for Research on Women’s (ICRW) Asia Regional Office ● Center on Gender Equity and Health at University of California, San Diego ● Division of Global Public Health at University of California, San Diego ● World Health Organization ● RTI International ● Swayam ● Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Public Health and Human Rights ● Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health ● Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

This course is made possible through the generosity of the Ujala Foundation, the Vijay & Marie Goradia Charitable Foundation, and the Wyncote Foundation.

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Syllabus

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week 1
Introduction to GBV - Epidemiology and Health Impact
Week 2
Health Care Response, Screening, and Psychosocial Support
Week 3
Clinical Care for GBV Survivors
Week 4
Additional Materials and Wrap-Up

FAQ

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

How is the course formatted?

The basis of this course is a series of lecture videos between 10-20 minutes in length. These videos cover the major course concepts.

Our peer-graded written assignments are designed to help students generate the products and identify the resources needed to pinpoint GBV issues. They will identify these issues in their own practices or experiences, and begin to shape an evidence-based response. Weekly comprehension quizzes cover the content of the lecture videos at the end of each section.

We offer an online discussion group, moderated by our course faculty, to facilitate student communication, discussion and reflection on the course content.

Supplemental materials include: lecture slides (.pdf), optional readings, and case examples.

Is this course a good source of help for people who have been or currently are experiencing gender-based violence?

No, this course is not intended for that purpose. This course is intended for health care providers who are dealing with gender-based violence among their patient population. If you have experienced or are currently experiencing gender-based violence or violence of any kind, you should seek help from a trusted and reliable source.

Are disturbing and uncomfortable topics covered in this course?

Yes, this course does touch on some disturbing and uncomfortable topics. Also, explicit language is used in one interview featured within the course.

How long will this course run?

This course will run for only 4 sessions: Jul 11, 2016 - Aug 14, 2016, Oct 3, 2016 - Nov 6, 2016, Jan 9, 2017 - Feb 12, 2017, and Apr 10, 2017 - May 14, 2017

You will need to finish your coursework by May 14, 2017 in order to achieve your certificate, as refunds and extensions will not be granted.

Reviews

This was a great and insightful course! I really appreciated the focus on low and middle income countries, as well as vulnerable populations.

Insightful and comprehensive - even for people with prior understanding of GBV, this course is a fantastic way of refreshing the memory and keeping up with new findings.

The course was very interesting, especially having to learn about how other countries like India view the issue.

If the quality of the sound was better, this course would have been the best learning experience I ever had.