Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern; however, limited studies have explored perceptions and experiences towards IPV among students, staff, administrators, and ...faculty across diverse disciplines at institutions of higher education. The purposes of this study were to (1) assess experiences of IPV among a sample of students, staff/administrators, and faculty and (2) examine the relationship among attitudes, actual and perceived knowledge, awareness, training, readiness, and personal experiences with IPV in this sample. Participants were recruited from an urban university and two university-affiliated medical institutions to participate in an online survey. Bivariate and multivariate associations were assessed. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to examine direct and indirect effects of perceived and actual knowledge and personal experiences with IPV. Of the 216 respondents, 42.6% reported personally experiencing IPV and 34.3% reported having witnessed IPV. Over 34% of participants never received training on IPV. The sub-sample with training received between one and more than 15 hours of training. Standardized total effect of training on attitudes and awareness was β = 0.42 (95% confidence interval CI = 0.30–0.51), the combined indirect effects was β = 0.18 (95% CI = 0.10–0.27) and the direct effects of β=0.23 (95% CI = 0.12–0.34), indicating that hours of training was highly associated with the participants’ perceived knowledge and actual knowledge, which improved their attitudes and awareness towards IPV survivors. Our findings suggest the need for campus-wide formal training on IPV to better prepare members in higher education to accurately identify, assess, and intervene to protect victims of abuse. Interprofessional approaches are needed that focus on the multiple and intersecting needs of victims of violence and should also enhance professional self-efficacy and increase readiness to respond to IPV survivors.
To promote safe and positive health outcomes by utilizing culturally relevant evidence-based interventions for immigrant and refugee women survivors of intimate partner violence, their active ...participation in research is critical. With 43.6 million immigrants and refugees living in the United States, there is a need for research studies to eliminate health disparities in these populations. However, barriers to recruiting and retaining these populations in research prevent the provision of quality and culturally informed services to meet their needs. The aim of this article is to discuss the recruitment and retention strategies employed and analyze the methodological and ethical challenges in the context of the weWomen Study. The use of a multifaceted approach informed by best practices maximized recruitment efforts and active participation that generated high numbers of immigrant and refugee women participants. The study also substantiated the need for more community-based participatory approaches to engage community members in the development of culturally appropriate approaches that instill a sense of ownership over the research process. Active research participation of immigrant and refugee survivors will help investigators understand their unique needs and facilitate the implementation of targeted evidence-based interventions.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects marginalized women in the United States. This calls for effective safety planning strategies to reduce the risk for future revictimization ...and address safety needs of survivors from marginalized groups. This review identified types of interventions that incorporated safety planning and were successful in reducing the risk for future revictimization among IPV survivors from diverse groups, examined elements of safety planning in effective interventions, and described challenges or limitations in safety planning intervention research with marginalized women. A systematic search of five databases was performed. The search resulted in inclusion of 17 studies for synthesis. The included studies were quantitative, U.S.-based, evaluated interventions with a safety planning component, and had an outcome of change in IPV. Effective interventions that incorporated safety planning were empowerment and advocacy focused. Elements included were comprehensive assessments of survivors’ unique needs and situations, educating them about IPV, helping them identify threats to safety, developing a concrete safety plan, facilitating linkage with resources, providing advocacy services as needed, and conducting periodic safety check-ins. For survivors with mental and behavioral health issues, effective interventions included psychotherapeutic approaches along with safety planning to address survivors’ co-occurring health care needs. Although most studies reported positive findings, there were limitations related to designs, methods, adequate inclusion, and representation of marginalized women and cultural considerations. This calls for additional research using rigorous and culturally informed approaches to establish an evidence base for effective interventions that specifically address the safety planning needs of marginalized survivors of IPV.
Immigrant and refugee women are at high risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) and intimate partner homicide (IPH). Given the growing number of immigrants and refugees in the US and the concerns ...about IPV and IPH among immigrant and refugee groups, this paper aims to identify survivors and practitioners’ perceptions of (a) common and culturally specific risk and protective factors for IPV and IPH for immigrant and refugee women and (b) areas of safety planning interventions for survivors who are at risk for severe or lethal violence by an intimate partner. Qualitative data for this multi-site study were collected from women and practitioners residing in seven geographically diverse US locations. Eighty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with adult immigrant and refugee survivors of IPV, who identified as Asian (
n
= 30), Latina (
n
= 30), and African (
n
= 23). Additionally, nine focus groups and five key informant interviews were conducted with practitioners (
n
= 62) who serve immigrant and refugee survivors of IPV. Results revealed multilevel risk and protective factors for IPV/IPH found at the societal level (e.g., patriarchal cultural norms), relationship level (e.g., partner abusive behaviors), and individual level (e.g., acculturation in the US). These findings can inform the development of culturally responsive risk assessment and safety planning interventions across legal, social service, and healthcare settings.
Intimate partner violence (IPV), including homicides is a widespread and significant public health problem, disproportionately affecting immigrant, refugee and indigenous women in the United States ...(US). This paper describes the protocol of a randomized control trial testing the utility of administering culturally tailored versions of the danger assessment (DA, measure to assess risk of homicide, near lethality and potentially lethal injury by an intimate partner) along with culturally adapted versions of the safety planning (myPlan) intervention: a) weWomen (designed for immigrant and refugee women) and b) ourCircle (designed for indigenous women). Safety planning is tailored to women's priorities, culture and levels of danger. Many abused women from immigrant, refugee and indigenous groups never access services because of factors such as stigma, and lack of knowledge of resources. Research is, therefore, needed to support interventions that are most effective and suited to the needs of abused women from these populations in the US. In this two-arm trial, 1250 women are being recruited and randomized to either the web-based weWomen or ourCircle intervention or a usual safety planning control website. Data on outcomes (i.e., safety, mental health and empowerment) are collected at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months post- baseline. It is anticipated that the findings will result in an evidence-based culturally tailored intervention for use by healthcare and domestic violence providers serving immigrant, refugee and indigenous survivors of IPV. The intervention may not only reduce risk for violence victimization, but also empower abused women and improve their mental health outcomes.
The syndemic effects of HIV infection, side effects of highly active antiretroviral medications, and age-related changes lead to increased risk for comorbidities and functional decline for older ...people with HIV. This proof of concept (PoC) study evaluated perceived usefulness, satisfaction, acceptability, intervention processes, resource management, and outcome effect variances of ThE CARE Intervention guided by the Self-Determination Theory. To test the utility of ThE CARE, we conducted a one-group pre/posttest intervention design with a convenience sample of 20 women, 50 years and older. The mean age was 56 years (SD = 11) and years since HIV diagnosis was 23.7 (SD = 8.6). ThE CARE intervention was found useful and participants "felt empowered" utilizing the app. Fourteen participants (70%) reported high-intensity distress and negative impact on life from neuropathic pain, anxiety (55%), fatigue (50%), and depressive symptoms (35%). Self-awareness and self-regulation also improved. Modest results of acceptability, usability, and positive trends in the outcome measures suggest possible effects. The interactivity and cultural relevance of ThE CARE would enhance women's autonomous motivation and perceived competence to actively engage in self-care. The PoC study provides important foundational information to advance science in mHealth interventions for older women with HIV.
Sexually transmitted infections (STI), including HIV infection, and intimate partner violence (IPV) are major public health problems that occur at high rates among African American women compared to ...women from other ethnic and racial groups. Using a syndemic framework, the objectives of this paper are to discuss the intersecting and synergistic effects of IPV, STI, and HIV infection, discuss social and health factors associated with high mortality and morbidity rates for Black women, and review effective evidenced-based interventions and strategies adapted to the unique needs of Black women. Effective intervention approaches that mitigate components of risk and enhance protective factors, especially at earlier ages, are critical. Given the multiple unique needs of Black women, sustainability and scale-up of effective interventions are imperative. Addressing challenges with cross national collaborations and challenges for investigators working with churches and community-based organizations that serve Black women are also discussed.
Immigrant and refugee women may experience considerable multifaceted and interrelated barriers that place them at heightened risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). The objective of this analysis ...was to increase our understanding of immigrant and refugee women's responses to abuse. We conducted in-depth interviews with 84 women who immigrated from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Engendering Resilience to Survive emerged as the core category explaining women's strength to stay safe and survive IPV experiences. In the face of the violence they experienced, women in this sample demonstrated remarkable resilience and the ability to harness their strength to survive. Resilience as a process and outcome could facilitate empowerment, and self-directedness to access health services and resources to stay safe. The developed Engendering Resilience to Survive Model can be utilized as a framework to inform research, policy, and practice to support abused women.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a national and international public health and human rights concern. Immigrant women are disproportionately affected by IPV that includes homicides. This study ...explored the perspectives of survivors of IPV, who are immigrants to the United States, regarding their sources of strength that enhance their safety and promote coping in abusive relationships. Data for this qualitative study were collected from ethnically diverse immigrant women residing in Massachusetts, Arizona, Virginia, Washington, D.C., New York, Minnesota, and California, using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Eighty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with adult immigrant survivors of IPV who self-identified as Asian (n = 30), Latina (n = 30), and African (n = 23). Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Women identified both external (e.g., community support, support from social service agencies) and internal (e.g., optimism, faith, beliefs) sources of strength. The study highlights how these sources can adequately address needs of survivors and offers areas for improvement in services for survivors. The findings are informative for practitioners serving immigrant survivors of IPV in legal, social service, and physical and mental health settings.
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