Enhancing a survivor-centred approach to healthcare provision in Afghanistan: Understanding and addressing the barriers faced by male victims/survivors of sexual violence

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Research approach

The research, conducted in three provinces of Afghanistan, was an exploratory qualitative study, which involved semi-structured, qualitative interviews with participants, including adult male victims/survivors, healthcare providers and community health workers (CHWs). The research identified multiple, cumulative and self-reinforcing barriers, situated at different levels of the social ecological framework, which prevent male victims/survivors of sexual violence from accessing quality healthcare services in Afghanistan. The results of this study show that there are multiple and cumulative barriers to male victim/survivors' access to quality healthcare services in Afghanistan, which operate at various level of the social ecological framework, and that many of these are consistent with barriers found in other conflict settings.

The study concludes "Survivor-centred healthcare response to male victims/survivors of sexual violence should address barriers at multiple levels of the social ecological model, and respond to the needs of male victims/survivors from different vulnerable groups, including boys and victims/survivors with diverse SOGIESC. While this requires a strong multi-sectoral approach, the health sector can implement some direct interventions to address these barriers. Targeted interventions should be developed to enhance"

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