Gender-based violence remains one of the most serious and prevalent problems in today’s society. It manifests itself in various forms, including economic, psychological, sexual and physical violence.
On March 27-29, 2024, a seminar for teachers of medical universities was held in Astana, for doctors dedicated to the problem of gender violence in medical education and discussed how to integrate it into the educational process. The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) Country Office in Kazakhstan. Teachers from NJSK “SMU” took part in the seminar: Egezhanova G.M., Terekhova T.I., Abylkhanova A.R.
One form of gender-based violence is economic violence, where a person controls another through financial dependence. This can lead to limited access to resources and opportunities for self-development. Psychological violence, in turn, can manifest itself in threats, humiliation, isolation or control over behavior.
Sexual and physical violence are the most visible and violent forms of gender-based violence. Girls and women remain the main victims of sexual violence, and disabled people are also exposed to this type of violence, often silently about their experiences due to fear or stigma.
As part of the workshop, we discussed methods for identifying and preventing gender-based violence. We have strengthened our knowledge and are now ready to introduce this topic into the educational process. Educating students and health professionals like myself as an obstetrician-gynecologist is important to raise awareness of gender-based violence and provide care to victims.
Including this topic in the learning process will help students better understand the nature of gender-based violence and learn to recognize its signs. It will also prepare future professionals to effectively intervene and support victims of gender-based violence.