Reducing HIV Stigma and Gender Based Violence: Toolkit for Health Care Providers in India

The toolkit is a collection of participatory educational exercises for educating health care providers on the issues of stigma and gender-based violence. It was developed for and with health care providers in Andhra Pradesh, India. The modules use a learner-centred, participatory approach to training — one built around discussion and small-group activities. The goal is to facilitate open discussion on HIV stigma and gender violence, and on what health workers can do to promote a change in attitude and practice. It includes modules with training exercises that are meant to be used selectively, according to the trainer's objectives and training group. As stated in the toolkit introduction, "[u]sing the toolkit exercises, trainers can create a safe space where health care providers can talk about their fears and concerns about HIV and AIDS; look at the roots of stigma and gender violence and how they affect people living with HIV and AIDS, women, families, health services and communities; examine their own attitudes and judgmental habits; and develop strategies and skills to confront stigma and violence in their health practice."

The toolkit chapters include:

1. HIV Stigma – Naming and Owning the Problem
2. Gender Based Violence – Naming and Owning the Problem
   
3. Shame and Blame – Stigma and Emotional Violence
4. More Understanding and Less Fear
5. Moving to Action
   

Its annexes include fact sheets, "Making your own Training Program", games for training, pictures for use in the toolkit sessions, and an overview of the Protection of women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005. Copies of this manual are available from International Center for Research on Women's (ICRW’s) website.