Health services are a unique resource that can identify women and girls subjected to violence, provide them with appropriate care and connect them to other support services.
PAHO partnered with the Spotlight Initiative to strengthen the health systems response to violence against women and girls. One of the outcomes of the collaboration between the Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago, PAHO and the Spotlight Initiative has been the development of the first National Clinical Guidelines and Policies on Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence.
The Guidelines are intended to improve the capacity of healthcare providers to respond holistically to the physical, mental, and social needs of survivors to ensure appropriate follow-up care. They also present health sector strategies to prevent and develop policy responses to violence against women.
Quality and accessible data are critical to inform clinical and policy decision-making. A tool has been developed for clinical staff to gather information on health conditions and care provided to survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV). This health care form is available in paper or electronic format. The electronic form, part of the existing Perinatal Information System, is available to the Regional Health Authorities (RHAs) and enables users to generate reports indicating the quality of care provided. A manual and instructional video for use of the health care form have been developed.