Other Titles
Beyond the Silence: Adapting a GBV Screening Tool for Pregnant Women in Ghana [Title Slide]
Abstract
Background: Violence against women and girls is a crucial global health concern. Violence occurring during pregnancy is an alarming global health issue due to increased adverse outcomes on maternal and newborn health. A vital component in the management of gender-based violence (GBV) in pregnancy is the identification of victims. Routine screening during the antenatal period is the most effective approach to identify pregnant women and girls exposed to GBV. Despite this crucial need, evidence suggests that little is done to identify women exposed to violence during pregnancy in Ghana.
Aim: This study aimed to assess gender-based violence screening practices among maternal healthcare providers and adapt a tool to facilitate routine GBV screening for pregnant women in Ghana.
Methods: The study utilized a multi-method approach. The study reviewed global evidence on GBV screening tools to identify existing tools and conducted a contextual assessment of healthcare provider GBV screening practices. Additionally, the study employed a co-creation approach involving policymakers, representatives from civil society, community and traditional leaders, educators, clinicians, and students to select and adapt a tool.
Results: The scoping review identified five GBV screening tools. However, the contextual assessment revealed that little to no GBV screening is done, with poor utilization of existing tools during the antenatal period. The co-creation process selected and adapted the Violence Against Women Instrument (VAWI) to facilitate routine GBV screening for pregnant women in Ghana.
Conclusion: The study revealed significant gaps in GBV screening practices among maternal healthcare providers in Ghana at the individual, institutional, and policy levels. There is a need for capacity development of providers and resource adaptations to enhance holistic identification of pregnant women and girls exposed to GBV in Ghana.
Notes
References:
Aboagye, R. G., Seidu, A.-A., Asare, B. Y.-A., Adu, C., & Ahinkorah, B. O. (2022). Intimate partner violence and timely antenatal care visits in sub-Saharan Africa. Archives of Public Health, 124-124. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-022-00853-y
Allemang, B., Sitter, K., & Dimitropoulos, G. (2022). Pragmatism as a paradigm for patient-oriented research. Health Expect, 25(1), 38-47. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13384
Amel Barez, M., Mirzaii Najmabadi, K., Latifnejad Roudsari, R., Mousavi Bazaz, M., & Babazadeh, R. (2022). 'It is a hard decision': a qualitative study of perinatal intimate partner violence disclosure
Andreu-Pejó, L., Valero-Chillerón, M. J., González-Chordá, V. M., Mena Tudela, D., & Cervera Gasch, A. (2022). Integrative review of the literature on screening for gender-based violence during pregnancy: Barriers, facilitators, and tools. Nurs Health Sci,24(3), 564-578. https://doi.org/10.1111/nhs.12967
Vargas, C., Whelan, J., Brimblecombe, J., & Allender, S. (2022). Co-creation, co-design, co-production for public health - a perspective on definition and distinctions. Public Health Res Pract, 32(2). https://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3222211
Griffith, D. M., Efird, C. R., Baskin, M. L., Webb Hooper, M., Davis, R. E., & Resnicow, K. (2024). Cultural Sensitivity and Cultural Tailoring: Lessons Learned and Refinements After Two Decades of Incorporating Culture in Health
Communication Research. Annual Review of Public Health, 45 (Volume 45, 2024), 195-212. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060722-031158
Kochanowska, M., Gagliardi, W. R., & with reference to Jonathan, B. (2022). The Double Diamond Model: In Pursuit of Simplicity and Flexibility. In D. Raposo, J. Neves, & J. Silva (Eds.), Perspectives on Design II: Research, Education and Practice (pp. 19-32). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-79879-6_2
Sigma Membership
Chi Omicron
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Explanatory
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Instrument and Tool Development, Sustainable Development Goals, Gender-Based Violence, Women's Health, Violence Against Women, Pregnant Women, Ghana
Recommended Citation
Agbenu, Innes, "Adaptation of a Culturally Sensitive GBV Screening Tool for Pregnant Women in Ghana" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 327.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/presentations_2026/327
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-09-29
Adaptation of a Culturally Sensitive GBV Screening Tool for Pregnant Women in Ghana
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Background: Violence against women and girls is a crucial global health concern. Violence occurring during pregnancy is an alarming global health issue due to increased adverse outcomes on maternal and newborn health. A vital component in the management of gender-based violence (GBV) in pregnancy is the identification of victims. Routine screening during the antenatal period is the most effective approach to identify pregnant women and girls exposed to GBV. Despite this crucial need, evidence suggests that little is done to identify women exposed to violence during pregnancy in Ghana.
Aim: This study aimed to assess gender-based violence screening practices among maternal healthcare providers and adapt a tool to facilitate routine GBV screening for pregnant women in Ghana.
Methods: The study utilized a multi-method approach. The study reviewed global evidence on GBV screening tools to identify existing tools and conducted a contextual assessment of healthcare provider GBV screening practices. Additionally, the study employed a co-creation approach involving policymakers, representatives from civil society, community and traditional leaders, educators, clinicians, and students to select and adapt a tool.
Results: The scoping review identified five GBV screening tools. However, the contextual assessment revealed that little to no GBV screening is done, with poor utilization of existing tools during the antenatal period. The co-creation process selected and adapted the Violence Against Women Instrument (VAWI) to facilitate routine GBV screening for pregnant women in Ghana.
Conclusion: The study revealed significant gaps in GBV screening practices among maternal healthcare providers in Ghana at the individual, institutional, and policy levels. There is a need for capacity development of providers and resource adaptations to enhance holistic identification of pregnant women and girls exposed to GBV in Ghana.
Description
The study adopted a multi-method approach to identify available GBV screening tools, assessed antenatal GBV screening practices among healthcare providers in Ghana, and adapted a GBV screening tool to facilitate culturally sensitive antenatal GBV screening for pregnant women in Ghana.