Psychosocial support for survivors of violence against women: a qualitative study on provider and user perspectives in a Ugandan health facility

2025-02-07T13:56:24+00:00

Background: Violence Against Women (VAW) impacts 1 in 3 women worldwide, making it a significant public health problem. Most survivors will seek some form of care at healthcare facilities, often making hospitals a critical point of intervention. Psychosocial support plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of survivors, helping them navigate the physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of violence. This study sought to assess the experiences of both Healthcare Workers (HCWs) and users of facility-based psychosocial care at a private, not-for-profit hospital in Uganda.

Methods: A qualitative design using in-depth interviews was employed to explore experiences and perspectives of eight survivors and nine healthcare workers at a private not-for-profit hospital in Uganda in 2023.

Results: The psychosocial services included screening, medical treatment, mental health support, referrals, and follow-up care. Key challenges identified were: limited Healthcare worker capacity to provide psychosocial care, inadequate infrastructure to provide safe spaces for care; high loss to follow up rate; and poorly formed networks with other service providers. While survivors appreciated care, findings emphasized the need for enhanced staff training, more tailored support for survivors and awareness creation for response services at the facilities.

Conclusion: While survivors value psychosocial services, gaps remain in staff capacity, infrastructure, visibility, and follow-up. A client-centered approach that protects privacy, enhances training, and strengthens referral networks can make care more responsive, comprehensive, and sustainable for women affected by violence

Pleasant freedom with suffering wounds: a qualitative study of post-discharge life in trauma patients recovered from coma

2025-10-11T05:26:35+00:00

Background: Trauma patients recovering from coma face significant physical, psychological, and social challenges after returning home, which may adversely affect their daily lives and well-being. Exploring these experiences can inform care needs and guide tailored post-discharge support. Accordingly, this study aimed to explore post-discharge life experiences in trauma patients recovered from coma.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis. A total of 17 trauma patients who had recovered from coma and had been discharged at least three months prior were selected through purposive sampling. For data collection, 20 face-to-face, semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Data analysis followed the Graneheim and Lundman approach. The rigor of the study was ensured using Guba and Lincoln’s criteria.

Findings: The findings revealed that the main theme of post-discharge life experience was characterized as “pleasant freedom with suffering wounds,” encompassing three categories: “freedom from captivity of alienation and despair,” “dubious pleasure,” and “integration of real and imagined disability and helplessness.”

Conclusions: The initial perception of post-discharge life among trauma patients who recovered from coma is profoundly shaped by the unpleasant experiences endured during ICU hospitalization. The sufferings experienced at home reflect a combination of real complications and imagined concerns arising from the severity of trauma, often accompanied by a false sense of disability and helplessness. These findings underscore the necessity of softening the ICU environment, implementing comprehensive discharge preparation, and providing effective post-discharge follow-up that addresses not only actual physical and psychological problems but also perceived or imagined sufferings.

Journal of Injury and Violence Research

Psychosocial support for survivors of violence against women: a qualitative study on provider and user perspectives in a Ugandan health facility

Pleasant freedom with suffering wounds: a qualitative study of post-discharge life in trauma patients recovered from coma