Exploring the Role of Palliative Care Providers Perceptions of Gender-Based Violence in Uganda

Gender-based violence (GBV) is an increasingly prevalent problem that can take many forms, have different levels of severity, and different ways of perpetuation. Palliative care providers' holistic focus assists in improving the quality of life of patients by identifying and responding to various factors that cause suffering in their patients, which provides a unique perspective on identifying GBV. In Uganda, there is a high rate of GBV due to cultural norms, gender inequities, and gender roles. This qualitative case study explored perspectives on GBV through the lens of palliative care providers in Uganda. During 2023, five focus group discussions were conducted across Uganda among different palliative care providers. Thematic analysis was used to identify six themes from the data: Perceptions of What Constitutes GBV, Training Experiences & Recommendations, Identification of GBV, Factors Influencing GBV, Intersectionality of GBV and Palliative Care, and Impact on Family. This study displays the need for developing targeted training, improving collaborative efforts, and creating culturally tailored and appropriate interventions to address GBV through the lens of palliative care providers.