The four Rs: recognise, respond, report, refer: supporting global health research to address issues of abuse and neglect, and examples from ARISE
| Recommendations from our learning | Examples from our partnership | |
| Recognise | Set up an open access hub with a repository of helpful information, resources and training material that can be used and adapted in different contexts. Train researchers and co-researchers on recognising subtle signs and flags of abuse and neglect. | An information hub has been established at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine* and examples of country-specific resources from ARISE are being added. Additional resources can be found on online supplemental file 1. |
| Respond | Where there are limitations in service provision, explore options for psychological first aid and training for researchers and co-researchers to support responses. Solicit feedback from community members on dealing with disclosures; get community input on helpful responses; seek psychological support and advice on handling difficult conversations. | Members of the ARISE team in India have been involved in the implementation of a telephone helpline to provide counselling to callers, as part of civil society efforts to address community needs in the pandemic. |
| Report | Implement continual training and reflection on how to keep everyone safe; ensure there are diverse reporting mechanisms, including different cadres of staff for complainants to report to, and ensure that reports are received and dealt with in a timely and appropriate way. Develop a safeguarding lead shared reporting form. Stress the importance of confidentiality and creating a reporting atmosphere free from judgement. | The shared reporting form (online supplemental file 2) was welcomed at African Population & Health Research Centre (APHRC) as an effective tool. This resource was shared with co-researchers from other projects who are interested in using the tool beyond the project period. |
| Refer | Make sure that the research team are aware of local/regional referral organisations by conducting mapping exercises, with all team members knowing how to directly refer and link those in need with appropriate services. Team members should be aware that ‘formal’ services may be overstretched, and that there may be quality or access concerns. Support the two-way sharing of relevant information with community members. | ARISE co-researchers and communities with support of community advisory boards at APHRC, Kenya, have mapped existing formal and informal support structures. The structures are updated as necessary due to the dynamic nature of support networks (see case study 1). LVCT Health produced an information film with deaf communities and had discussions with sex workers on concerns of police harassment and exploitation, as well as violence by their clients. Toll-free telephone numbers were used to disseminate SGBV information through sensitisation, tele-counselling, psychosocial support, distribution of Information, Education and Communication materials on SGBV and COVID-19 messaging and ensuring that communities know where to seek services. |
*https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/safeguarding/safeguarding-information-point
ARISE, Accountability for Informal Urban Equity; SGBV, sexual and gender-based violence.