Authors: Katherine Rudzinski , Lara F. Hudspith, Adrian Guta, Scott Comber, Linda Dewar, Wendy Leiper, Kim Hawkins, Lady Laforet, Rajwant Raji Mangat, Phoebe M. Long, Ingrid Handlovsky and Vicky Bungay
Publication: BMC Public Health
Volume: 25
What we know
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pervasive public health crisis with devastating impacts on women’s health and well-being. Women experiencing GBV face considerable barriers accessing appropriate and timely health and social services. This study explored women’s experiences with health and social services in three Canadian cities to understand critical challenges and strengths in service provision for women experiencing GBV.
What we discovered
We organized the findings into three interrelated themes. First, our results show how the systems within which health and social services are organized are not designed to meet women’s complex needs, with rigid structures, siloed services, and stigmatizing cultures creating significant barriers. Second, the data illustrate how service providers support and empower women through practices such as providing key information, assisting with administrative tasks, offering material resources, and addressing discrimination through advocacy and accompaniment. Third, our findings demonstrate how building an effective working relationship characterized by trust, non-judgment, and collaboration is crucial for service engagement and women’s overall well-being.
What’s next
Findings illuminate critical public health challenges as women navigate fragmented services across multiple and siloed systems not designed to meet their complex needs. There is an urgent need for systemic change to create more integrated, responsive support systems for women experiencing GBV. This includes addressing underlying structures perpetuating gender inequities and violence. Facilitating safe access to holistic services that consider women’s preferences is crucial. Effective working relationships built on trust, respect, and power-sharing are key to supporting women’s agency and addressing their interconnected needs.
