Women survivors of intimate partner violence: the difficult                     transition to independence

Objective To understand the trajectories that women go through from entering into to leaving relationships involving intimate partner violence (IPV), and identify the stages of the transition process. Method We utilized a constructivist paradigm based on grounded theory. We ensured that the ethical guidelines of the World Health Organization for research on domestic violence were followed. The analysis focused on narratives of 28 women survivors of IPV, obtained from in-depth interviews. Results The results showed that the trajectories experienced by women were marked by gender issues, (self) silencing, hope and suffering, which continued after the end of the IPV. Conclusion The transition process consists of four stages: entry - falls in love and becomes trapped; maintenance - silences own self, consents and remains in the relationship; decides to leave - faces the problems and struggles to be rescued; (re) balance - (re) finds herself with a new life. This (long) process was developed by wanting (and being able to have) self-determination.

Download Full-text

Intimate partner violence

Oxford Textbook of Public Mental Health ◽

10.1093/med/9780198792994.003.0049 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 465-476

Author(s):

Carmen Wong ◽

Wai Ching Ng ◽

Hua Zhong ◽

Anne Scully-Hill

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

World Health ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Psychological Harm ◽

And Gender ◽

Health Organization ◽

Internal And External Factors

Intimate partner violence (IPV) refers to any action that causes physical, sexual, and psychological harm by intimate partners, which includes domestic violence. This chapter gives a brief overview and details the prevalence, current theories, research, and evidence, including patriarchy and gender issues. IPV is complex, with internal and external factors relating to the victim, perpetrator, family, and the community. The long-term impacts on physical and mental health are reviewed. Recent direction by the World Health Organization describes a multi-level integrated approach, which is discussed topically in terms of individual, relational, and community prevention and intervention and its challenges. Finally, policies and laws relating to IPV are reviewed. This chapter has been written collaboratively by a multidisciplinary team of medical, social, and legal professionals.

Download Full-text

Intimate partner violence against women: Effects of power distance, individualism and economyKadına yönelik yakın partner şiddeti: Güç mesafesi, bireycilik ve ekonominin etkisi

Journal of Human Sciences ◽

10.14687/ijhs.v13i1.3543 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 60 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ümran Yüce Selvi ◽

Derya Karanfil

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Power Distance ◽

National Income ◽

Open Data ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

World Health ◽

Data Set ◽

Culture Dimensions ◽

The Relationship

The aim of the present study is to examine the varying rates of physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV) across countries with respect to Hofstede's (2001) power distance and individualism culture dimensions and investigate the possible mediating role of country economy in these relationships. The sample of the study was composed of the values of 25 countries on the study variables. The points of countries on culture dimensions were obtained from Hofstede (2001) open data source. Gross national income per capita (GNIPC) was used as indicator of the economic development of the countries, and the values were taken from World Health Organization report (2013a). Physical and sexual IPV rates of countries were obtained from United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women data set (UN WOMEN, 2011). Countries having points in all three data sets were included in the study. Findings indicated that at cross-cultural level, physical and sexual IPV were significantly and positively correlated with power distance and they were significantly and negatively correlated with individualism and GNIPC. Additionally, mediation analyses showed that GNIPC significantly mediated both the relationship between power distance and physical IPV and power distance and sexual IPV. However, although GNIPC significantly mediated the relationship between individualism and physical IPV, did not mediate the relationship between individualism and sexual IPV. ÖzetBu çalışmanın amacı, ülkelerarası farklılaşan fiziksel ve cinsel yakın partner şiddeti (YPŞ) oranlarının, Hofstede (2001)’nin kültürel boyutlarından güç mesafesi ve bireycilik/toplulukçuluk ile ilişkisini incelemek ve ülke ekonomisinin bu ilişkilerdeki olası aracı etkisini saptamaktır. Çalışmanın örneklemi, 25 ülkenin ilgili boyutlardan aldığı değerlerden oluşturmaktadır. Ülkelerin kültür boyutlarındaki değerleri, Hosftede (2001) açık veri setinden elde edilmiştir. Kişi Başına Düşen Gayri Safi Milli Hasıla (GSMH), ülkelerin ekonomik durumunun göstergesi olarak kabul edilmiş ve değerler Dünya Sağlık Örgütü Raporu’ndan (WHO, 2013a) alınmıştır. Çalışmaya dahil edilen ülkelerdeki YPŞ oranları ise, Birleşmiş Milletler Cinsiyet Eşitliği ve Kadınların Güçlendirilmesi Birimi (UN WOMEN, 2011) tarafından derlenen veri setinden elde edilmiştir. Çalışma sonuçları, ülkeler düzeyinde, kadına yönelik fiziksel ve cinsel YPŞ oranlarının, güç mesafesi ile anlamlı düzeyde ve olumlu yönde, bireycilik ve kişi başına düşen GSMH ile anlamlı düzeyde ve olumsuz yönde bir ilişkisinin olduğu ortaya koymuştur. Aracı etki analizleri, kişi başına düşen GSMH’nın güç mesafesi ile fiziksel ve cinsel YPŞ ve bireycilik ile fiziksel YPŞ ilişkisine aracılık ettiğini; buna karşın bireycilik ile cinsel YPŞ ilişkisine aracılık etmediğini göstermiştir.

Download Full-text

Categories and health impacts of intimate partner violence in the World Health Organization multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence

International Journal of Epidemiology ◽

10.1093/ije/dyaa220 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lucy C Potter ◽

Richard Morris ◽

Kelsey Hegarty ◽

Claudia García-Moreno ◽

Gene Feder

Keyword(s):

Domestic Violence ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Attempted Suicide ◽

Memory Loss ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

World Health ◽

The World ◽

Country Study ◽

Health Organization

Abstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) damages health and is costly to families and society. Individuals experience different forms and combinations of IPV; better understanding of the respective health effects of these can help develop differentiated responses. This study explores the associations of different categories of IPV on women’s mental and physical health. Methods Using data from the World Health Organization (WHO) Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence, multilevel mixed effects logistic regression modelling was used to analyse associations between categories of abuse (physical IPV alone, psychological IPV alone, sexual IPV alone, combined physical and psychological IPV, and combined sexual with psychological and/or physical IPV) with measures of physical and mental health, including self-reported symptoms, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and nights in hospital. Results Countries varied in prevalence of different categories of IPV. All categories of IPV were associated with poorer health outcomes; the two combined abuse categories were the most damaging. The most common category was combined abuse involving sexual IPV, which was associated with the poorest health [attempted suicide: odds ratio (OR): 10.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 8.37-13.89, thoughts of suicide: 8.47, 7.03-10.02, memory loss: 2.93, 2.41-3.56]. Combined psychological and physical IPV was associated with the next poorest outcomes (attempted suicide: 5.67, 4.23-7.60, thoughts of suicide: 4.41, 3.63-5.37, memory loss: 2.33, 1.88-2.87-). Conclusions Understanding the prevalence and health impact of different forms and categories of IPV is crucial to risk assessment, tailoring responses to individuals and planning services. Previous analyses that focused on singular forms of IPV likely underestimated the more harmful impacts of combined forms of abuse.

Download Full-text

Exploring Intimate Partner Violence Status Among Male Veterans and Associated Health Outcomes

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988313492558 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 66-73 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Catherine Cerulli ◽

Robert M. Bossarte ◽

Melissa E. Dichter

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

World Health ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Health Consequences ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Veteran Status ◽

Health Organization

The World Health Organization has identified intimate partner violence (IPV) as a public health issue affecting both men and women, though significantly more information is available regarding female victimization. This study examines IPV through the lens of male victimization, focusing on a comparison of physical and mental health consequences among men who are and are not military veterans. Results from a secondary analysis of data from the Behavior Risk Factor Survey taken by 13,765 males indicated that all males, regardless of veteran status, should be screened for IPV victimization given the prevalence reported in this sample (9.5% to 12.5%). Furthermore, it was found that veteran status did affect prevalence of particular health consequences, such as depression, smoking, and binge drinking. Based on the specific comparisons examined in this study, implications for Veteran’s Administration Health Services are discussed, as is the need for more research on IPV victimization rates for men and the particular health consequences that they suffer.

Download Full-text

PTSD Symptoms Among Men and Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Risk and Protective Factors

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.20.6.625 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 625-643 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Ann L. Coker ◽

Rebecca Weston ◽

Daniel L. Creson ◽

Blair Justice ◽

Patricia Blakeney

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Women Survivors ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Sectional Analysis ◽

The Relationship

The purpose of this cross-sectional analysis of the National Violence Against Women Survey was to characterize current symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 185 men and 369 women survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). In this subsample, 24% of women and 20% of men had current moderate-to-severe PTSD symptoms. PTSD scores were higher for women than men. Protective factors that appear to increase resiliency of survivors were higher education and income, being currently married, and reporting that IPV had stopped. Higher physical or psychological IPV scores, current depressive symptoms, and the survivor having left the relationship at least once were associated with risk of moderate-to-severe symptoms of PTSD. Protective factors may be used to boost resiliency of IPV survivors and reduce PTSD symptoms.

Download Full-text

Fortalecimiento de los sistemas de salud para responder a las mujeres que sufren violencia de pareja o violencia sexual. Manual para gerentes de salud.

10.37774/9789275322468 ◽

2020 ◽

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Sexual Violence ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Health Systems ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

World Health ◽

El Sistema ◽

Las Mujeres ◽

Health Organization

El siguiente manual está dirigido a los gerentes del Sistema de Salud, en todos los niveles. Se basa en las directrices del 2013 de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para dar respuesta a la violencia de pareja y a la violencia sexual contra las mujeres. Este manual utiliza los elementos fundamentales de los sitemas de salud según la OMS, descritos en el marco de acción para el fortalicimiento de los sistemas de salud. Y junto con el manual clínico complementario contribuye a la ejecución del componente de salud del Programa Mundial Conjunto de las Naciones Unidas sobre Servicios Esenciales para las mujeres y las niñas víctimas de la violencia. Su finalidad es fortaecer a los sistemas de salud para que puedan prestar a las sobrevivientes de la violencia servicios confidenciales, eficaces y centrados en la mujer. La violencia daña la salud de las mujeres de muchas formas, tanto inmediatas como a largo plazo, tanto evidentes como ocultas. Puede incluir violencia física, sexual y psíquica. Los actos de violencia pueden ser cometidos por la pareja o, en caso de la violencia sexual por cualquier agresor. El manual se centra en la violencia que ejercen los hombres contra las mujeres, en particular la violencia de pareja y la agresión sexual, que permanencen ocultas y, a menudo, pasan desapercibidas para el sistema de salud. Los usuarios propuestos para este manual son los gerentes de salud en todos los niveles que tienen la responsabilidad de diseñar, planificar o gestionar servicios de salud para las mujeres, entre ellas las que han sufrido violencia. Versión oficial en español de la obra original en inglés: Strengthening health systems to respond to women subjected to intimate partner violence or sexual violence: a manual for health managers. © World Health Organization 2017. ISBN: 978-92-4-151300-5.

Download Full-text

The Psychometric Properties of the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF Among Thai Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence

Journal of Nursing Measurement ◽

10.1891/1061-3749.25.3.389 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 389-399 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ratchneewan Ross ◽

Ghada Shahrour ◽

Andrea Warner Stidham ◽

Douglas Delahanty

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

World Health ◽

World Health Organization Quality ◽

The World ◽

Organization Quality ◽

Health Organization

Background and Purpose: The World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) has been used in various populations and cultures. However, its psychometric properties are unknown among women who experienced intimate partner violence (WIPV). This study aimed to explore the reliability and validity of the WHOQOL-BREF among Thai WIPV. Methods: Two hundred eighty-four female patients receiving care at a northeast hospital in Thailand responded to the WHOQOL-BREF and intimate partner violence (IPV) questions. Exploratory factor and consistency analyses were applied. Results: Different from the original study, this study generated 5 factors, 1 of which is Medical Care Needs. The resulting scale and subscales showed good reliability and construct validity. Conclusion: The 5-factor scale can be used among WIPV by health care professionals to assess their quality of life (QOL) and appropriately address their needs.

Download Full-text

Perpetration and Victimization of Intimate Partner Violence Among Young Men and Women in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260515625910 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (16) ◽

pp. 2486-2511 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Marta Mulawa ◽

Lusajo J. Kajula ◽

Thespina J. Yamanis ◽

Peter Balvanz ◽

Mrema N. Kilonzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Dar Es Salaam ◽

World Health ◽

Gender Based Violence ◽

Men And Women ◽

Younger Women ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Health Organization

We describe and compare the baseline rates of victimization and perpetration of three forms of intimate partner violence (IPV)—psychological, physical, and sexual—among sexually active men ( n = 1,113) and women ( n = 226) enrolled in an ongoing cluster-randomized HIV and gender-based violence prevention trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. IPV was measured using a modified version of the World Health Organization Violence Against Women instrument. We assess the degree to which men and women report overlapping forms of IPV victimization and perpetration. Sociodemographic and other factors associated with increased risk of victimization and perpetration of IPV are examined. Within the last 12 months, 34.8% of men and 35.8% of women reported any form of IPV victimization. Men were more likely than women to report perpetrating IPV (27.6% vs. 14.6%, respectively). We also found high rates of co-occurrence of IPV victimization and perpetration with 69.7% of male perpetrators and 81.8% of female perpetrators also reporting victimization during the last year. Among men, having ever consumed alcohol and experiencing childhood violence were associated with increased risk of most forms of IPV. Younger women were more likely to report perpetrating IPV than older women. We found evidence of gender symmetry with regard to most forms of IPV victimization, but men reported higher rates of IPV perpetration than women. Given the substantial overlap between victimization and perpetration reported, our findings suggest that IPV may be bidirectional within relationships in this setting and warrant further investigation. Implications for interventions are discussed.

Download Full-text

Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Among Female Clients Accessing HIV Testing and Counseling Services: Pilot Testing Tools in Rakai, Uganda

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/1077801216663657 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 23 (13) ◽

pp. 1656-1668 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elizabeth J. King ◽

Suzanne Maman ◽

Fredinah Namatovu ◽

Deus Kiwanuka ◽

Robert Kairania ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

World Health ◽

Screening And Brief Intervention ◽

Hiv Counseling ◽

Testing Tools ◽

Counseling And Testing ◽

Health Organization ◽

Female Clients

The World Health Organization recommends that HIV counseling and testing (HCT) programs implement strategies to address how intimate partner violence (IPV) influences women’s ability to protect themselves from and seek care and treatment for HIV infection. We discuss the process used to adapt a screening and brief intervention (SBI) for female clients of HCT services in Rakai, Uganda—a setting with high prevalence of both HIV and IPV. By outlining our collaborative process for adapting and implementing the SBI in Rakai and training counselors for its use, we hope other HCT programs will consider replicating the approach in their settings.

Download Full-text

Intimate Partner Violence: A Literature Review

The Open Psychology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874350102114010011 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 11-16

Author(s):

Erick D.A. Yonfa ◽

Malinda Fasol ◽

Camila M. Cueva ◽

Anna C. Zavgorodniaya

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Cultural Change ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

World Health ◽

Future Research ◽

Specific Information ◽

Childhood Experiences ◽

Health Organization

Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a complex issue that appears to be more prevalent in developing nations. Many factors contribute to this problem. Objective: This article aimed to review and synthesize available knowledge on the subject of Intimate Partner Violence. It provides specific information that fills the knowledge gap noted in more global reports by the World Health Organization. Methods: A literature search was conducted in English and Spanish in EBSCO and Scopus and included the keywords “Intimate, Partner, Violence, IPV.” The articles included in this review cover the results of empirical studies published from 2004 to 2020. Results: The results show that IPV is associated with cultural, socioeconomic, and educational influences. Childhood experiences also appear to contribute to the development of this problem. Conclusion: Only a few studies are focusing on empirically validated interventions to solve IPV. Well-implemented cultural change strategies appear to be a solution to the problem of IPV. Future research should focus on examining the results of strategies or interventions aimed to solve the problem of IPV.

Download Full-text