HMN 2026: How to analyze the lived experiences of acid attack survivors for better rehabilitation

Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health India, in partnership with the Chhanv Foundation, have examined the lived realities of acid attack survivors in India, focusing on the stigma they face in daily life and the strategies used to cope with it. Their study is published in the journal BMJ Public Health.

Acid attacks are a significant problem in India and are considered an act of gender-based violence. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 207 acid attacks were reported in 2023 alone. Several attacks go unreported because of the stigma and fear of retaliation associated with reporting the crime. Limited access to health care and legal recourse further exacerbates the problem, especially in underserved and remote communities. It is believed that more than 1000 acid attacks happen in India every year.

The George Institute research was aimed at understanding the lived, everyday experiences of stigma faced by acid attack survivors. Such an understanding is essential for designing meaningful rehabilitation and support services for these survivors.

The study, the first of its kind globally to use body mapping with acid attack survivors, was conducted in Noida between November 2023 and April 2024 and involved eight women survivors. It used an arts-based participatory research method called body mapping, in which participants sketched and annotated life-sized outlines of their bodies to express emotions, memories, pain, and resilience. This method is especially valuable and empowering for survivors as trauma, communication barriers, and limited literacy can make it difficult to verbalize such experiences.

The results showed that the stigma associated with disability and disfigurement affected the lives of acid attack survivors in various aspects and was damaging to their psychological well-being. The survivors continually encountered poor public perceptions and negative societal attitudes, leading to feelings of devaluation, anxiety, and depression. Many of them also experienced social rejection and mental and physical abuse within their families. The survivors also lost access to education and livelihood based on their appearance, which not only added to their emotional trauma but also prevented them from rebuilding their lives.

The study also identified factors that helped survivors move forward from their trauma and rebuild their lives. Counseling, peer support, and shared experiences helped the process of self-acceptance. Chhanv Foundation, which provides medical care, vocational training, legal aid, safe residence, employment, and advocacy, plays a significant role in rehabilitating acid attack survivors. Many survivors now work at Sheroes Hangout Café, an initiative run by survivors in many Indian cities like Delhi, Noida, Agra and Lucknow.

The study recommends tangible steps towards rehabilitating acid attack survivors and integrating them into society. These include stronger long-term psychosocial support, improved access to education and employment opportunities, stricter enforcement of regulations and ban on the sale of acid, timely delivery of survivor compensation, expanded access to reconstructive and rehabilitative health care, and integrated one-stop support centers which combine medical, legal, counseling, and vocational services in a single facility.

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