Prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse at Dar Al Wafaa primary healthcare center

Abstract

Due to higher dependencies on assistance providers, cases of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) have been drastically increasing. The health facilities in Lebanon are still inactive protection actors. Therefore, it is highly recommended to strengthen protection practices at all health institutions. As a response to prevent and reduce SEA risk, this project aimed to integrate and strengthen the procedures of Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) during the delivery of health services in Primary Healthcare Centers (PHCCs) through reinforcing or introducing the PSEA Core Principles and PSEA policy for all healthcare providers, providing comprehensive training for healthcare personnel, ensuring access to appropriate and safe feedback and complaints mechanisms in healthcare delivery settings, and disseminating public health key messages on PSEA to the community. The practicum project was implemented at Union of Relief and Development Associations; and specifically at Dar Al Wafaa PHCC. The project took two hundred hours to be completed. Assessment and evaluation methods were used as study designs to carry out the project. The tools that were used and developed included reports addressing SEA and PSEA, standard forms, questionnaire for pre-test and post-test, and training equipment. Microsoft excel was used for data analysis. The outputs of the practicum project varied. At first, an extensive literature review on PSEA in healthcare settings was conducted, and a synthesis matrix to organize used resources was created. Then, a detailed PSEA policy was developed and enforced at the PHCC. Later on, PSEA training for the healthcare workers at the PHCC was prepared and delivered. All training attendees were satisfied and scored on the post-test higher than the pretest. Furthermore, PSEA awareness posters were prepared to be installed at the PHCC. At last, a narrative report was developed. Results on the personal level included gaining technical skills, knowledge, and personal skills.