ABSTRACT
Abstract: Context: Globally, there is still widespread of violence against women and girls. Timor-Leste reports high prevalence of GBV with 30% women have experienced intimate partner (IPV) or non-partner sexual violence. Several studies reported about the increase of domestic violence gender-based violence (D-GBV) against girls and women worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aims: To understand whether women living with these two diseases experienced D- GBV during the lockdowns in Timor-Leste. Methods and Material: The study was a qualitative phenomenology design, utilizing purposive sampling technic. Was conducted in eight municipalities from early October 2022 to end of February 2023. It considered eight independent variables to identified the occurrence of D-GBV. Subject 42 in-depth interviews: 19 HIV, 23 TB participants, and 3 FGDs. Data analysis with NVIVO version 12.1. Results: The D- GBV were widely reported from all municipalities. Psychological, socio-economic, verbal, and physical violence were mostly reported. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated D- GBV, and impeded participants to apply coping mechanisms in dealing with the violence. Stigma and discrimination were prevalent. The main causes of the violence were economic factors, jealousy, denial, cultural issues, and failure to perform household work. The participants reported using various coping mechanisms to deal with D- GBV: seeking external support or avoidance and staying, facing the perpetrator at home. Conclusions: The triple vulnerabilities (weaknesses of system to combat D-GBV, stigma, discrimination against female TB and HIV patients. It is recommended to train clinician working on D-GBV subject.