A qualitative systematic review of published work on disclosure and help-seeking for domestic violence and abuse among women from ethnic minority populations in the UK

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Domestic violence and abuse has been recognised as an international public health problem. However, the pervasiveness of the problem is unknown due in part to underreporting, especially among women from ethnic minority populations. In relation to this group, this review seeks to explore: (1) the barriers to disclosure; (2) the facilitators of help-seeking; and (3) self-perceived impacts of domestic violence.

Design: We systematically identified published qualitative studies conducted among women from ethnic minority populations in the UK. Data analysis was completed using thematic analysis approach.

Result: 562 papers were identified and eight papers from four studies conducted among women from ethnic minority populations in the UK met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Barriers to disclosure include: Immigration status, community influences, problems with language and interpretation, and unsupportive attitudes of staff within mainstream services. Facilitators of help-seeking were: escalation of abuse and safety of children. Self-perceived impact of abuse includes: shame, denial, loss of identity and lack of choice.

Conclusion: There is an on-going need for staff from domestic violence services to be aware of the complexities within which women from ethnic minority populations experience domestic violence and abuse.     

‘I feel safer in the streets than at home’: Rethinking harm reduction for women in the urban margins

ABSTRACT

Through qualitative data collected with women affected by drug use and drug-related violence in Bogotá, this article explores the convergence of harm reduction rationales and violence prevention programming in the urban margins to advocate for women’s health empowerment and health rights as victims of intergenerational trauma and violence. We propose a methodological shift of public health praxis from street-based outreach models to intimate spaces of intervention for health outcomes embodiment ¹ 1 Drawing from Krieger’s (2004) conceptualisation, we define embodiment as the stories our bodies hold and how they interact with the urban environment. as we continue to develop our community health model to work with marginalised communities in the urban global South. Through this work committed to social justice in marginalised urban communities, we seek to support women’s health needs through harm reduction in historically marginalised communities in urban settings. Our results expose how multi-level gender-based violence affects women’s health in their living spaces in the urban margins. Drawing from women’s voices and narratives of urban violence, we call for a feminist alternative to traditionally masculinist and public-space oriented harm reduction practice for health empowerment in the urban margins.     

Women’s Experiences with Intimate Partner Violence and Their Mental Health Status in India: A Qualitative Study of Sambalpur City

The intimate partner violence (IPV) against women has been identified as a violation of human rights and a serious public health concern. There is not only the immediate consequence of partner violence, such as injury or death but also the other long-term health consequences. IPV can be associated with psychological effects such as depressive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse. The study aims to explore the nature and causes of IPV on women’s life and their personal experiences to deal with. This is an NGO-based study. For better understanding of the issues, Purposive sampling was used in selecting women with clinically diagnosed mental illness who experienced IPV. The qualitative research methodology was employed to explore the experiences and impact of IPV on the mental health status of women. For analysis, we used a phenomenological approach and conducted in-depth interviews. Findings show the participating women were suffering from IPV in physical, psychological, and sexual forms. Majority of respondents felt that wife-beating and abusing was fairly common. Most of the women had to face violence on a frequent and occasional basis. IPV experienced women were facing a mental illness like anxiety, depression and sleeping-disorder. The women, who were facing mental illness due to IPV, have been and continue to be exposed to such violence. Despite being employed and suffering from IPV deeply, women choose to stay with their abusive partner because of their children future, lack of support, and social security. The mental health of victims’ was clinically diagnosed, including self-assessed symptoms. It means participants were aware that they are mentally ill because of IPV. The healthy and quick recovery treatment should be given according to the need of women, rather than providing comprehensive standardised treatment for all.     

Screening in the Prenatal Period for Intimate Partner Violence and History of Abuse: A Survey of Edmonton Obstetrician/Gynaecologists

Objective

This study sought to understand how obstetrician gynaecologists (OB/GYNs) in Edmonton, Alberta screen prenatal patients for intimate partner violence (IPV). It also aimed to explore attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions regarding IPV and identify barriers to screening for IPV. Institutional protocols, resources, and support available to clinicians and patients were also reviewed.

Les Centres Ressources pour les Intervenants auprès des Auteurs de Violences Sexuelles (CRIAVS)

Resources Centres for People working with Sex Offenders (RCPSO) are public services devoted to tackling sexual violence. Created following the April 2006 circular related to the evaluation and treatment of sex offenders, centres are regional multidisciplinary teams (e.g. psychiatrist, psychologist, sexologist, nurse, lawyer, sociologists, librarians, etc.) aim at: - developing primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of sexual violence; supporting professionals working with sex offenders (e.g. case studies, assessment, referral); - improving multi-agency network and partnerships to facilitate the articulation between health and justice systems in the context of penally ordered care; - multidisciplinary training (initial training and continuing professional development) of professionals and informing the public; - ensuring access to knowledge by free access to an online multilingual database of reference documents related to sexual violence (http://theseas.reseaudoc.org/opac/); - initiating, supporting and disseminating research and innovation in the field of sexual violence prevention. In 2009, a national federation was created, the French Federation of Resources Centres for People working with Sex Offenders (FFRCPSO), allowing for national efforts, visibility and projects. The FFRCPSO has developed national and international multi-agency partnerships and support innovative projects. For instance, the ELIS study was the first national study to investigate a penally ordered care measure (“care injunction”), its use, conduct, implementation and output, providing national data and highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. In June 2018, the national consortium on the prevention, evaluation and treatment of sex offenders gathered 15 national key stakeholders and organisations leading to the identification of key actions and 35 recommendations. These recommendations outline a multi-levelled national strategy to tackle sexual violence emphasising communication, prevention in key populations, training for all professionals, evaluation and treatment at key stages and needs for further research. Among these recommendations and based on international successes, was the creation of a national evaluation and referral helpline for minor-attracted persons. In November 2019, the pilot phase and evaluation of the national evaluation and referral helpline was launched.     

Dating violence: A cross-lag path model with pregnant and parenting adolescents

IntroductionDating violence is a common problem among adolescents, particularly among Latinx pregnant and parenting adolescents, and can be detrimental to adolescent parents and their children. However, little is known about whether different forms of dating violence behaviors are stable over time or what influences changes in these behaviors. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to use an exploratory autoregressive cross-lag path model to analyze whether conflict resolution, verbally abusive, and physically abusive behaviors were stable over time and whether these behaviors predicted one another in the future.MethodA total of 285 pregnant or parenting adolescents attending eight high schools in the Southwestern U.S. completed a pre-test at the beginning of a semester, a follow-up survey at the end of the semester, and a post-test at the end of the following semester to longitudinally assess the strategies they used when resolving a conflict with their partners (i.e., conflict resolution strategies, verbally abusive behaviors, and/or physically abusive behaviors).Results and conclusionsAn autoregressive cross-lag model was performed to determine whether conflict resolution, verbally abusive, and physically abusive behaviors at one time point predicted the same variables in the future. Results from the autoregressive cross-lag model indicated that adolescents’ reports of their conflict resolution strategies and verbally abusive behaviors were stable across time, but their use of physically abusive behaviors were not. Additionally, conflict resolution strategies predicted lower levels of verbally abusive and physically abusive behaviors.     

Medidas de contención de la violencia de género durante la pandemia de COVID-19

Crises, emergencies and times of unrest have been linked to increased interpersonal violence, including violence against women. Following the declaration of alarm status and quarantine, different measures have been implemented to mitigate the possible effect of gender violence (Contingency Plan against Gender-Based Violence in Coronavirus Crisis or Royal Decree Law on Emergency Measures). This document reviews the measures adopted so far by the government of Spain, the autonomous governments and the initiatives formulated in different countries. In the absence of concrete economic measures to date, and the scenario of economic uncertainty, we conclude that it is not possible to prevent gender-based violence in a comprehensive way, without considering the increase in unemployment, temporary and instability employment, economic dependency or the overload of household chores and reproductive tasks, among other elements that facilitate it.     

The impact of horizontal violence on the individual nurse: A qualitative research study

AimHorizontal violence (HV) is a familiar term used in nursing. Certain populations of nurses are more susceptible to HV than others. Graduate nurses (nurses within their first 12 months of practice) are widely considered a vulnerable population in the profession and thus more at risk for HV. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how HV affects graduate nurses (GNs).DesignInductive thematic analysis was used in the design of this study.MethodsParticipants included eight Canadian GNs or Registered Nurses (RNs), all of whom had experience with HV in their first 12 months of practice. Data collection was done via one-on-one interviews.ResultsTwo main themes were revealed from the data collected - Toxic Nursing Culture and Fear. Several subthemes were also identified – cycle of violence, nurses eating their young, shame, drowning, isolation and vulnerability. The findings indicate that HV is prevalent in the first year of practice and is destructive to the mental health of the individual nurse. Horizontal violence poses a serious challenge for GNs entering nursing and is often touted as the reason new nurses leave the profession altogether.ConclusionThis study highlighted the personal and professional challenges that are heightened for a GN when they experience HV in their first year of practice. These experiences emphasize the impact that HV can have on the mental health of nurses and their ability to deliver safe patient care.