scholarly journals A technology-based intervention to improve safety, mental health and empowerment outcomes for immigrant women with intimate partner violence experiences: it’s weWomen plus sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bushra Sabri ◽  
Nancy Glass ◽  
Sarah Murray ◽  
Nancy Perrin ◽  
James R. Case ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Immigrant Women ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Culturally Tailored ◽  
Multiple Assignment ◽  
Trauma Informed

Abstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects immigrant women, an understudied and underserved population in need for evidence-based rigorously evaluated culturally competent interventions that can effectively address their health and safety needs. Methods This study uses a sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART) design to rigorously evaluate an adaptive, trauma-informed, culturally tailored technology-delivered intervention tailored to the needs of immigrant women who have experienced IPV. In the first stage randomization, participants are randomly assigned to an online safety decision and planning or a usual care control arm and safety, mental health and empowerment outcomes are assessed at 3-, 6- and 12-months post-baseline. For the second stage randomization, women who do not report significant improvements in safety (i.e., reduction in IPV) and empowerment from baseline to 3 months follow up (i.e., non-responders) are re- randomized to safety and empowerment strategies delivered via text only or a combination of text and phone calls with trained advocates. Data on outcomes (safety, mental health, and empowerment) for early non-responders is assessed at 6 and 12 months post re-randomization. Discussion The study’s SMART design provides an opportunity to implement and evaluate an individualized intervention protocol for immigrant women based on their response to type or intensity of intervention. The findings will be useful for identifying what works for whom and characteristics of participants needing a particular type or intensity level of intervention for improved outcomes. If found to be effective, the study will result in an evidence-based trauma-informed culturally tailored technology-based safety decision and planning intervention for immigrant survivors of IPV that can be implemented by practitioners serving immigrant women in diverse settings. Trial registration This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT04098276 on September 13, 2019.

Should Programs Designed to Help IPV Survivors Screen for Mental Health–Related Problems

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 603-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine A. Simmons ◽  
Matthew J. Delaney ◽  
Leslie Lindsey ◽  
Anna Whalley ◽  
Olliette Murry-Drobot ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Concept Mapping ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Trauma Informed ◽  
Qualitative Responses

Qualitative responses that 187 service providers gave to a question assessing whether agencies designed to help intimate partner violence (IPV) survivors should screen for mental health-related problems were analyzed using a version of the concept mapping approach. Nine central clusters emerged from the data analysis, which can be linked to three underlying themes: how the identification of mental health-related problems (i.e., labeling) could be misused when working with IPV survivors, ways screening can be appropriately used to help IPV survivors, and barriers that prevent screening. Findings highlight the importance of trauma-informed approaches across all aspects of service delivery.

A Trauma-Informed Analysis of the Violence Against Women Act’s Provisions for Undocumented Immigrant Women

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (13) ◽  
pp. 1540-1556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine Shaanta Murshid ◽  
Elizabeth A. Bowen
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Violence Against Women ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Immigrant Women ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Undocumented Immigrant ◽  
Analysis Framework ◽  
Trauma Informed

Immigrant women in the United States are among the groups disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence (IPV). Undocumented immigrants generally have fewer resources for coping with violence and may experience a range of personal, cultural, and immigration status–related barriers to reporting violence and accessing help. Thus, undocumented immigrant victims of IPV could benefit significantly from policies that promote access to trauma-informed services and legal options. This article applies a trauma-informed policy analysis framework to the Violence Against Women Act’s immigration protections to demonstrate how the Act’s U-Visa provisions and implementation practices could be improved by incorporating trauma-informed principles of trustworthiness and transparency, empowerment, choice, safety, collaboration, and intersectionality.

Health Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence and Help-seeking Among Unauthorized Immigrant Women

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110209
Author(s):  
Sara Shuman ◽  
Amanda M. Pollitt ◽  
Matthew O’Brien ◽  
Jennifer Ibrahim ◽  
Jhumka Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Immigrant Women ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
Unauthorized Immigrant

Intimate partner violence (IPV) research on immigrant women who are unauthorized is particularly scarce, despite unique vulnerabilities associated with their documentation status that may impact help-seeking and health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to document the frequency of lifetime IPV and related help-seeking behaviors, and examine the relationship between IPV, major depressive disorder (MDD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among a community health center-based sample of unauthorized, Spanish-speaking immigrant women in Philadelphia. A clinic-based sample of unauthorized Spanish-speaking women ( N = 200, ages 18-65) completed an anonymous, cross-sectional survey on IPV experiences, help-seeking behaviors, and self-reported health in 2013-2014. Chi-square tests assessed associations between sociodemographic variables and IPV. Multivariable logistic regression investigated whether IPV predicted mental health outcomes. Approximately one in three (34.5%) women reported lifetime IPV experiences. Of these, half (56.6%) sought help (formal n = 22; informal n = 25) because of the violence. Women identified not knowing where to go, believing that help was not necessary, and embarrassment as barriers to help-seeking. Symptoms consistent with MDD and PTSD were reported by 40.5% and 16% of the sample, respectively. In unadjusted logistic regression models, IPV survivors were more likely to endorse MDD and PTSD, and report low mental health HRQL scores than counterparts without IPV. In fully adjusted models, only the association between IPV and PTSD remained significant (OR: 3.80, p =.01). Study findings document high frequencies of IPV, MDD, and PTSD among this clinic-based sample of unauthorized immigrant women. Women who reported IPV also had a greater likelihood of reporting symptoms consistent with PTSD. Findings highlight the need for clinic-based mental health and trauma-informed services tailored to unauthorized immigrant women as well as interventions to decrease IPV.

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