Providing a Supportive Environment for Disclosure of Sexual Violence and Abuse in a Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Setting: A Realist Review
Abstract
Background: Sexual and reproductive healthcare services (SRHS) are an environment where medical care relevant to sexual violence and abuse (SV) is available. However, barriers to disclosure need to be overcome to allow timely access to this care. There is limited research identifying and explaining how interventions remove barriers and create a safe and supportive environment for disclosure. The purpose of this review was to develop and refine theories that explain how, for whom and in what context SRHS facilitate disclosure. Methods: Following published realist standards we undertook a realist review. After focussing the review question and identifying key contextual barriers, articles pertaining to these were identified using a traditional systematic database search. This strategy was supplemented with iterative searches. Results: Searches yielded 3172 citations, and 28 articles with sufficient information were included to develop the emerging theories. Four evidence-informed theories were developed proposing ways in which a safe and supportive environment for the disclosure of SV is enabled in SRHS. The theories consider how interventions may overcome barriers surrounding SV disclosure at individual, service-delivery and societal levels. Conclusions: Benefits of SRHS engagement with health promotion and health activism activities to address societal level barriers like lack of service awareness and stereotypic views on SV are presented. Although trauma informed practice and person-centred care were central in creating a safe and supportive environment for disclosure the review found them to be poorly defined in this setting.
Citations
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Date
2022-06-28
Type
Article
Subject
Sex. Relationships. Marriage. The family.
Collections
Citation
Caswell RJ, Ross JDC, Maidment I, Bradbury-Jones C. Providing a Supportive Environment for Disclosure of Sexual Violence and Abuse in a Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Setting: A Realist Review. Trauma Violence Abuse. 2023 Oct;24(4):2661-2679. doi: 10.1177/15248380221111466. Epub 2022 Jun 28
Journal / Source Title
Trauma, Violence & Abuse
DOI
10.1177/15248380221111466
PMID
35762535
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Publisher’s URL
https://research.aston.ac.uk/en/publications/providing-a-supportive-environment-for-disclosure-of-sexual-viole