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Types of Care in the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Space

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WI-HER GESI Advisor Lydia Musa (left) with health workers who work in GBV prevention and response in Nigeria.
WI-HER GESI Advisor Lydia Musa (left) with health workers who work in GBV prevention and response in Nigeria.

By Shana Abraham, WI-HER Communications Advisor

When we provide care for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV), we must use approaches that are safe, sensitive, and uplifting. Survivor-centered care, trauma-informed care, and trauma-and-violence-informed care prioritize dignity, healing, and support for survivors. With so many terms, it can get confusing – how do these approaches differ? Take a look at the key differences!

First… What is trauma?

Trauma is the long-term emotional response to troubling and/or frightening events that a person may experience. Trauma may impact a survivor in a myriad of ways, including mental, emotional, and physical effects.


Types of GBV Services

Survivors of GBV can access a wide range of specialized services that can contribute to their safety, recovery, and well-being:

  • Case Management: Personalized support to address health, safety, and legal needs through referrals.
  • Medical Care: Critical services, including urgent services like Clinical Management of Rape.
  • Mental Health Services: Professional treatment for trauma-related disorders.
  • Psychosocial Support: Emotional recovery through crisis care and long-term support.
  • Legal Assistance: Guidance to understand and claim legal rights, including pursuing justice against perpetrators of GBV.
  • Safe Shelter & Safe Spaces: Immediate protection and community support.
  • Economic Empowerment & Emergency Aid: Skills training, livelihood support, and basic needs assistance.

Survivor-Centered Care (SCC)

Survivor-centered care prioritizes a survivor’s rights, wishes, dignity, and autonomy while making sure their needs, safety, and well-being are addressed in violence prevention and response measures.

Examples:

  • Ask, listen, and engage survivors to make decisions in their care plans. 
  • Ensure confidentiality and privacy to maintain trust and safety.
  • Be culturally sensitive to language barriers and cultural norms on family involvement and gender dynamics in care.

Trauma-Informed Care (TIC)

Trauma-informed care (TIC) recognizes the vast impacts trauma can have, particularly on health and behavior. It focuses on creating safe spaces that prevent further harm by integrating this understanding into care delivery. 

Examples:

  • Recognize and respond to signs of trauma in survivors and staff.
  • Avoid re-traumatization through safe environments, in which healthcare centers are physically and psychologically safe, policies and processes are transparent, peer support is available, and biases and stereotypes are addressed and minimized.
  • Train staff to approach care with empathy and awareness.

Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care (TVIC)

Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care (TVIC) takes into account the connection between trauma, violence, and inequities and recognizes the broader context in which trauma is experienced. It acknowledges the impact of structural conditions to understand trauma within a survivor’s psychological state and social circumstances.

Examples: 

  • Account for social determinants of health, like poverty or discrimination in care plans.
  • Design services to reduce power imbalances.
  • Provide advocacy for systemic change in policies alongside survivor support.

Key Differences Between Types of Care Approaches

Each type of care builds on the other, forming a holistic framework for supporting survivors. Here’s a comparison of how each approach addresses the needs of survivors and trauma in different contexts:

Aspect

SCC

TIC

TVIC

Focus

Prioritizes survivor autonomy, safety, and dignity

Emphasizes understanding trauma’s psychological and individual impacts

Addresses broader systemic and structural conditions that influence a survivor’s trauma and ongoing violence (rather than trauma as something that happened in the past)

Approach to Trauma

Individualized care that aligns with survivor choices

Recognizes trauma’s impact and avoids re-traumatization

Considers societal, institutional, and structural violence contributors to trauma

Scope of Responsibility

Ensures survivor-led decision-making and culturally sensitive care

Integrates trauma awareness across all levels of service

Highlights organizational accountability to implement systemic change

Examples

Confidential services, survivor-led plans

Trauma-sensitive environments, staff training

Addressing institutional violence in harmful policies and systems, including advocacy for policy reform

Takeaways

  • Survivor-centered care prioritizes building a sense of autonomy and safety.
  • TIC emphasizes recognizing and responding to trauma based on the individual’s unique and specific experiences.
  • TVIC integrates an awareness of systemic inequities and the social determinants that influence a survivor’s trauma.
  • Effective GBV care blends these approaches to enable healing and respond effectively to survivors’ needs.

Additional Resources

Explore best practices in GBV response:

Learn more about WI-HER’s work in GBV prevention and response.

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