CEHAT Researcher Wins Second Place in “Research Poster by a Young Researcher” at SVRI Forum 2026

CEHAT is pleased to announce that Heena Sinha received the Second Prize in the Young Researcher Poster Presentation Competition at the Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI) Forum 2026, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 5 to 9 October 2026.

The award recognised the poster titled “We Should Not Be Left Alone to Support Women: The Role of Community Health Workers in Preventing and Responding to Domestic Violence Against Women in India: A Qualitative Study.”

Authors: Sanjida Arora, Sarah Meyer, Heena Sinha, Sangeeta Rege, Kajal Jain, Mary Ellsberg, and Avni Amin.

Presenting Author: Heena Sinha.

The poster presented findings from formative research conducted with ASHA workers in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Maharashtra. The study explored their perceptions of domestic violence against women, their understanding of their role in responding to it, and the opportunities and challenges they encounter in supporting women within their communities.

The research highlights the potential of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to contribute to violence prevention and response through awareness-building and facilitating referrals to appropriate support services. It also draws attention to the challenges they face, including inadequate institutional support, concerns about personal safety, and the absence of clear protocols and referral mechanisms.

This recognition brings attention to the importance of bringing community health workers' perspectives into research and discussions on preventing and responding to domestic violence. It also highlights the need to strengthen the systems and support structures that enable health workers to respond safely and effectively.

CEHAT congratulates Heena Sinha on this achievement and acknowledges the valuable contributions of Rajeeta Chavan and Uruj Shaikh, whose fieldwork efforts contributed to the study.

Acknowledgements: CEHAT extends its gratitude to all the co-authors and its implementation partner, MASUM, for their contributions to this research.

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