Speaker
Description
Authors: Georgina Warner (Department of Public Health and Caring Science, Uppsala University, Sweden), Anna Pérez-Aronsson (Department of Public Health and Caring Science, Uppsala University, Sweden)
Background: Despite its reputation for gender equality, Sweden experiences persistently high rates of gender-based violence (GBV). Refugee women can be disproportionately affected due to intersecting systemic and social vulnerabilities. In response, we undertook a co-design process to develop a psychosocial support model attuned to the needs of refugee women with lived experience of GBV. Aligned with the prevention continuum, the model spans primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, integrating awareness-raising, help-seeking facilitation, and trauma-informed care.
Methods: Using a structured workshop methodology, we engaged a co-design team comprising researchers, survivor co-researchers, and service providers. The resulting model includes two interlinked components: (1) a community-based awareness and help-seeking intervention hosted at open preschools, targeting women at the primary and secondary prevention levels; and (2) a group-based clinical intervention hosted by the Swedish Red Cross, offering tertiary prevention for survivors. The clinical component, Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR), was pilot tested through a convergent mixed-method case series (N=6).
Results: Participants in the STAIR pilot reported positive experiences with the group format, relaxation exercises, and skills for setting boundaries. While only two participants demonstrated clinically meaningful reductions in PTSD symptoms, qualitative data revealed perceived psychosocial benefits not captured by standard measures. Patterns of individual variation were observed in weekly well-being scores.
Discussion: This co-designed model illustrates how prevention-oriented research and practice can be integrated to address GBV across the continuum. The open preschool platform is designed to enhance early identification and engagement, while the Swedish Red Cross intervention is intended to provide targeted therapeutic support. Findings from the clinical pilot underscored the importance of trauma-informed facilitation, extended delivery timelines, and attention to group dynamics. Future steps include larger-scale implementation and long-term evaluation.
| Conflict of interest | None |
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