Barriers to Help-Seeking for Sexual Violence Among Married or Cohabiting Women in Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 107780122110608
Author(s):  
Gervin A. Apatinga ◽  
Eric Y. Tenkorang
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Female Survivors ◽  
Financial Difficulties ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Depth Interviews

While sexual violence against women has gained attention in sub-Saharan Africa, research examining help-seeking remains limited. Scholarship on barriers to help-seeking among sexually abused married or cohabiting women is particularly lacking. We used the barriers model and held 15 in-depth interviews with sexually abused Ghanaian married or cohabiting women to examine help-seeking behaviors. Participants identified multiple barriers to help-seeking, including financial difficulties, lack of social support, and stigma. The results corroborate the barriers model's formulation of the challenges faced by female survivors in reporting violence. They indicate the need to improve laws to promote help-seeking among women with experiences of sexual violence.

“So Why Should I Call Them?”: Survivor Support Service Characteristics as Drivers of Help-Seeking in India

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052097030
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Newberry ◽  
Japsimran Kaur ◽  
Shravya Gurrapu ◽  
Rasika Behl ◽  
Gary L. Darmstadt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Support Service ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Service Characteristics ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Depth Interviews

Women in South Asia face the highest lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence in the world, which is just one form of violence against women (VAW). In India, few women seek help after experiencing violence, particularly from formal resources, such as physicians or the police. While many studies have investigated the impact of survivor characteristics and patterns of violence on help-seeking behaviors, there is scant research on support service characteristics and their impact on help-seeking. The introduction of a novel crisis helpline in Gujarat, India provided an opportunity to better understand how successful help-seeking can be driven by the perceived and experienced characteristics of the helpline. We conducted in-depth interviews with helpline users to identify factors and pathways that promoted or discouraged help-seeking in general, help-seeking from a formal source, and help-seeking from this particular helpline. We analyzed 32 interviews of women who used the helpline. Participants were from eight districts across the state, representing a diverse range of sociodemographic backgrounds. After conducting a thematic analysis, we found that action-oriented service, timeliness, and women-focused staff influenced (positively and negatively) participants’ feelings of safety, empowerment, and trust in the helpline, which ultimately impacted their decision to seek help from the helpline or even to seek help at all. This study illuminates how service characteristics, in and of themselves, can influence the likelihood that survivors will seek help, emphasizing the need for survivors to have a voice in the growth and refinement of VAW support services. Consequently, these areas must be a focus of future research and initiatives to improve help-seeking by VAW survivors.

scholarly journals A framework for improving early detection of breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: A qualitative study of help-seeking behaviors among Malawian women

2017 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Racquel E. Kohler ◽  
Satish Gopal ◽  
Anna R. Miller ◽  
Clara N. Lee ◽  
Bryce B. Reeve ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Sub Saharan

Determinants of Sexual Violence Against Married Women: Qualitative Evidence From Ghana

Sexual Abuse ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 107906322091072
Author(s):  
Gervin A. Apatinga ◽  
Eric Y Tenkorang
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Ecological Model ◽  
Married Women ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Social Ecological ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Core Idea ◽  
Ghanaian Women

Some evidence suggests that in sub-Saharan Africa, sexual violence is commonplace among married women, yet this problem is underresearched. Using qualitative methods and applying Heise’s social-ecological model, this study examined the experiences of 15 Ghanaian women suffering sexual violence in their marriages. Results from the thematic analysis indicate several determinants of sexual violence. Whereas some participants identified macro-level and exosystem factors, including poverty, others pointed to micro-level and ontogenic factors, such as husbands’ substance abuse. The results corroborate the core idea of Heise’s framework, namely, that structural- and individual-level factors make women vulnerable to violence. The study concludes that Ghanaian legal and policy frameworks must be enforced and strengthened to address the etiology of sexual violence and abuse.

The contexts of housing stability and change among HIV-positive persons in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adobea Y Owusu ◽  
Mabel Teye-kau ◽  
Eric Y Tenkorang
Keyword(s):  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Housing Conditions ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Stability And Change ◽  
Housing Stability ◽  
Persons Living With Hiv ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Depth Interviews

Summary Due to stigma, discrimination and economic insecurity, persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) are highly vulnerable to housing instability. For instance, PLWHAs are more likely to either remain stable in inadequate homes or change residence. Yet, few studies explore the contexts of housing stability and change among PLWHAs, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority reside. This study used qualitative in-depth interviews to explore the narratives of 38 PLWHAs on the contexts of housing stability and the circumstances leading to change in residence. On diagnosis with HIV, the majority of PLWHAs (58%) changed housing locations, mostly from bad to worse conditions. Reasons for change include: eviction due to stigma and discrimination, inability to afford rent, quest to hide HIV status and death of a cohabiting partner. Our findings suggest policy makers should pay attention to the deplorable and poor housing conditions of PLWHAs in Ghana.

scholarly journals Transcription and Analysis of Qualitative Data in a Study of Women Who Sexually Offended Against Children

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth McNulty
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Sexually Abused ◽  
Abused Women ◽  
Abused Children ◽  
Specific Detail ◽  
Sexually Abused Children ◽  
Sexually Offended ◽  
Depth Interviews

Research on sexual violence is often conducted within the qualitative paradigm. However, many writers have described the lack of specific detail provided with regard to decisions and processes involved in transcribing and analyzing this type of data. In this article, I will provide a description and discussion of the organization, categorization, and analysis of in-depth interviews in a recent study of women who sexually abused children. The study revealed common experiences of sexual and other abuse in the women’s childhood and adult relationships. These experiences created vulnerabilities that appeared to play a significant role in the women’s offenses. Although abused women rarely abuse others, the findings suggest that supporting and providing therapy to victims of abuse might minimize the potential for such outcomes.

scholarly journals Domestic Violence across 30 Countries in Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna E Ssentongo ◽  
Emily S. Heilbrunn ◽  
Paddy Ssentongo ◽  
Dan Lin ◽  
Yanxu Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Physical Violence ◽  
Wealth Index ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hotspot Analysis ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Meta Regression Analysis ◽  
Surrounding Areas

Introduction: Domestic violence is a prevalent global health issue that causes incredibly adverse consequences for an individuals physical and psychological health. The rates of physical and sexual violence in developing countries are thought to be some of the highest in the world, where up to 44% of women in Sub-Saharan Africa have experienced domestic violence. However, this has not been explored systematically. We present the first study to estimate the incidence and prevalence of physical and sexual violence across Africa. Methods: Poisson meta-regression analysis on demographic health survey data from 482,670 women from 442,507 households in 30 countries across Africa. Hotspot analysis using the Getis-ORD Gi approach at the sub-regional level. Results: Of 482,670 women, those who were divorced or separated were approximately 7 times more likely to experience physical violence and 6 times more likely to experience sexual violence compared to those who were never married (Risk Ratio: RRs:7.35, 95%CI 7.16-7.54 and 5.89, 95%CI 5.75-6.02 respectively). Likewise, wealth index and education level were inversely related to the incidence and prevalence of sexual and physical violence. Hotspots of sexual and physical violence were identified in Congo and surrounding areas. Conclusions: Interventions should be designed to address the high levels of physical and sexual violence in Congo and surrounding areas, especially in those who are less educated, have lower wealth indices, and are divorced or separated.

scholarly journals Help-seeking behaviour and associated factors among women who experienced physical and sexual violence in Ethiopia: evidence from the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Simegnew Handebo ◽  
Ayenew Kassie ◽  
Adane Nigusie
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Cluster Sampling ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviour

Abstract Background Violence against women remains devastatingly pervasive and remained unchanged over the past decade. Violence against women is preventable and help-seeking of women subjected to violence is an entry point. So, this study assessed help-seeking behaviour and associated factors among women who experienced physical and sexual violence in Ethiopia. Method Using the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS), this paper analyzes the determinants of help-seeking behavior of women subjected to violence in Ethiopia. EDHS used a two-stage stratified cluster sampling technique. From 642 communities, a total of 1540 (weighted) reproductive age women were included in the analysis. Simple descriptive, bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis were employed. Statistical significance was set at a p-value of less than 0.05. Results Only 22.5% of the women who experienced violence sought help. Being aged 30 and above, working in sales, or an agricultural job, being in the richest wealth quintile, and experiencing severe violence were associated with increased help-seeking behaviour. Living in a rural area, having a husband who attended primary, secondary, and higher education, having a husband working in a professional job and agriculture were factors associated with lower odds of help-seeking behaviour. Conclusion In Ethiopia below one-fourth of women who were subject to violence sought help. Socio-demographic factors and severity of the violence were associated with help-seeking. Preventing child marriages and reducing poverty as well as increased employment and education for women enhance help-seeking behaviour by the women. Interventions could include creating awareness, law enforcement, and support for victims.

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