Intimate partner violence against women in Pakistan: a review of qualitative research.

OBJECTIVE: To consolidate research data and provide an insight into areas that need further research regarding intimate partner violence. METHODS: The review targeted qualitative research-based studies done in the English language and conducted in Pakistan from 2008 to 2018 regarding intimate partner violence against women. A thorough search of Google Scholar and PubMed databases was done. Data from each selected article was extracted using a data-extraction template. RESULTS: Of the 2,479 results, 21(0.8%) articles were selected along with 4(0.16%) texts from grey literature. An in-depth analysis led to six broad categories: experiences/perspectives of married women facing intimate partner violence; perspectives of married men towards intimate partner violence; perspectives of religious leaders who support the idea of men controlling their wives; societal norms, such as dowry, patriarchy and daughters being considered a burden; impact on women and family as damage to the women's physical and mental health affects not only her but also the society as a whole; and coping strategies used by most women. CONCLUSIONS: The review helps in understanding the common trends and situation of Pakistani women who are exposed to violence, the common limitations faced by researches, and areas which require further research to prevent intimate partner violence.

The Endemic Amid the Pandemic: Seeking Help for Violence Against Women in the Initial Phases of COVID-19.

During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments instituted a series of measures to control the spread of the virus. The measures were widely believed to increase women's risk of violent victimization, most of which is by an intimate partner. We examined help-seeking during this period in a large U.S. city and used an interrupted time series analysis to assess the effects of three government interventions on domestic violence and sexual assault hotline calls and on "911" calls regarding domestic violence, assault, and rape. Declaration of an emergency appeared to reduce victim calls to the rape crisis hotline and the few "911" calls about rape. School closure was associated with a reduction in "911" calls about assault and rape and victim calls to the domestic violence hotline. Implementation of stay-at-home orders was associated with a gradual increase in domestic violence hotline calls. Although "911" calls regarding assault fell by nearly half, calls to police for domestic violence were unchanged. In sum, there was a decrease in help-seeking for sexual assault and assault in general but not for domestic violence during the initial phases of the COVID-19 outbreak. The analysis underscores the importance of distinguishing between the violence itself, calls to police, and calls to helplines when claims are made about changes over time in violence against women. The opportunities and constraints for each can differ widely under usual circumstances, circumstances that were altered by public health interventions related to the pandemic.

Profile of intimate partner violence in Family Health Units / Perfil de las violencias por pareja íntima en Unidades de Salud de la Familia / Perfil das violências por parceiro íntimo em Unidades de Saúde da Família

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the profile of intimate partner violence involving women in a scenario of Family Health Strategy in the municipality of Nova Iguaçu (Rio de Janeiro). Method: A transversal study was conducted in four units with a sample of 640 women between the ages of 25 to 64. The phenomena of violence was determined using the tool Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, validated for Brazil. Statistical analysis took into consideration an estimation of prevalence in the calculation of the p values. Results: The situations of violence and the sociodemographic profiles demonstrated a statistically significant relationship with the variables of educational level and housing conditions. Age, ethnicity and economic class demonstrated an association with certain types of violence, varying in type and severity. Conclusion: The study investigated the profile of these situations of violence and enabled reflection regarding the approaches adopted by the Family Health Strategy teams.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Estimar el perfil de las situaciones de violencia por parejas íntimas que involucran mujeres en el ámbito de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia de la provincia de Nova Iguaçu (Rio de Janeiro). Método: Se trata de un estudio transversal realizado en cuatro unidades con muestra de 640 mujeres entre 25 y 64 años de edad. Se aprehendió el fenómeno de las violencias con auxilio del instrumento Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, validado para Brasil. El análisis estadístico llevó en consideración la estimación de las prevalencias y el cálculo de los p-valores. Resultados: la asociación entre las situaciones de violencias y el perfil sociodemográfico demostró significación estadística principalmente para las variables tiempo de estudio y condiciones de vivienda. Edad, etnia y clase económica demostraron asociación con algunos tipos de violencia, variando en forma y gravedad. Conclusión: El estudio investigó el perfil de las situaciones de violencias y posibilitó reflexiones cuanto a los enfoques adoptados por los equipos de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia.

RESUMO Objetivo: Estimar o perfil das situações de violência por parceiros íntimos que envolvem mulheres no âmbito da Estratégia Saúde da Família do município de Nova Iguaçu (Rio de Janeiro). Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado em quatro unidades com amostra de 640 mulheres entre 25 e 64 anos de idade. Apreendeu-se o fenômeno das violências com auxílio do instrumento Revised Conflict Tactics Scales, validado para o Brasil. A análise estatística levou em consideração a estimação das prevalências e o cálculo dos p-valores. Resultados: a associação entre as situações de violências e o perfil sociodemográfico demostrou significação estatística principalmente para as variáveis tempo de estudo e condições de moradia. Idade, etnia e classe econômica demonstraram associação com alguns tipos de violência, variando em forma e gravidade. Conclusão: O estudo investigou o perfil das situações de violências e possibilitou reflexões quanto às abordagens adotadas pelas equipes da Estratégia Saúde da Família.