A collaborative effort by public health units and researchers in Thunder Bay and southeastern Ontario has resulted in the launch of a new guide aimed at assisting Ontario in predicting and preventing gender-based violence (GBV). Utilizing a population-health approach, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, Southeast Public Health, and Lakehead University jointly developed the Equity-Focused Population Health Framework for Gender-Based Violence Prevention to aid public health units in addressing GBV.
Thunder Bay has been grappling with high levels of intimate partner violence, as evidenced by a recent Statistics Canada report indicating a significantly elevated rate compared to the provincial and national averages. In response, the city council officially designated intimate partner violence as an epidemic in 2023.
Marianne Stewart, overseeing children, youth, and families at the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, emphasized the integration of gender-based violence prevention into routine public health practices. The framework outlines strategies for data analysis, risk assessment, evidence-based interventions, and equitable approaches to safeguard vulnerable populations.
Central to the document is its population-health approach, which examines societal influences on vulnerability to harm rather than individual factors. This methodology aims to address systemic inequities and intersecting forms of discrimination contributing to higher exposure and adverse outcomes related to gender-based violence.
The project, developed through Public Health Ontario’s Locally Driven Collaborative Projects program, engaged various stakeholders in a collaborative process to devise effective prevention strategies. Helle Møller, an associate professor at Lakehead University, highlighted the framework’s adaptability and potential for fostering coordinated efforts across sectors to reduce the incidence and impact of gender-based violence.
The ultimate goal is to promote awareness, support, and the cultivation of healthy relationships within communities, underscoring the importance of sustained collaboration between public health agencies and support organizations to combat gender-based violence effectively.