Effectiveness of a community-based participatory health promotion intervention to address knowledge, attitudes and practices related to intimate partner violence: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence is the most common form of violence experienced by women. It has detrimental consequences. A range of determinants cause intimate partner violence and to reduce it, effective interventions are required to address the determinants. Health promotion interventions have been recommended as effective to enable people to control over the determinants and to improve health. Hence, a community based participatory health promotion intervention was developed and tested in a selected study setting. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of a health promotion intervention in terms of addressing knowledge, attitudes and practices related to intimate partner violence. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted by recruiting ninety women aged 15 to 49 years separately from two health administrative areas identified as the intervention area and the control area from the Kandy district of Sri Lanka. A pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used in both pre- and post-assessments. Selected groups of women from the intervention area were facilitated with a health promotion intervention to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices related to intimate partner violence. To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention descriptive summaries and bivariate analysis were used. RESULTS: The response rate was 90.9% (N = 90) during the pre-assessment and 87.9% (n = 87) and 82.8% (n = 82) from the intervention and control areas, respectively, during the post-assessment. Statistically significant improvement was reported in the total mean score comprising knowledge, attitudes, practices and identification of determinants from 59.6 to 80.8 in the intervention area [Pre-assessment: Mean = 59.6 (standard deviation-SD) = 17.5; Post-assessment: Mean = 80.8, SD = 19.0; p < 0.001) compared to the improvement in the control area from 62.2 to 63.0 (Pre-assessment: Mean = 62.2, SD = 17.3; Post-assessment: Mean = 63.0, SD = 18.9; p = 0.654). CONCLUSIONS: The intervention was effective to improve knowledge, attitudes and practices related to intimate partner violence. Hence, the present approach can be used in similar contexts to address the knowledge, attitudes and certain practices related to intimate partner violence.

Impacts of an abbreviated personal agency training with refugee women and their male partners on economic empowerment, gender-based violence, and mental health: a randomized controlled trial in Rwanda.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the impact of a personal agency-based training for refugee women and their male partners on their economic and social empowerment, rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), and non-partner violence (NPV). METHODS: We conducted an individually randomized controlled trial with 1061 partnered women (aged 18-45) living in a refugee camp in Rwanda. Women received two days of training, and their partners received one day of training. The follow-up survey where all relevant outcomes were assessed was carried out at 6-9 months post-intervention. RESULTS: At follow up, women in the intervention arm were more likely to report partaking in income generating activities (aIRR 1.27 (1.04-1.54), p < 0.05) and skill learning (aIRR 1.59 (1.39-1.82), p < 0.001) and reported a reduction in experience of physical or sexual NPV in the past six months (aIRR 0.65 (0.39-1.07), p < 0.09). While improved, no statistically significant impacts were seen on physical or sexual IPV (aIRR 0.80 (0.58-1.09), p = 0.16), food insecurity (ß 0.98 (0.93 to 1.03), p = 0.396), or clean cookstove uptake (aIRR 0.95 (0.88 to 1.01), p = 0.113) in the past six months. We found statistically significant reduction in physical and sexual IPV amongst those experiencing IPV at baseline (aIRR 0.72 (0.50 to 1.02), p < 0.07). Small improvements in self-efficacy scores and our indicator of adapting to stress were seen in the intervention arm. Some challenges were also seen, such as higher prevalence of probable depression and/or anxiety (aIRR 1.79 (1.00-3.22), p = 0.05) and PTSD (aIRR 2.07 (1.10-3.91), p < 0.05) in the intervention arm compared to the control arm. CONCLUSION: Our findings echo previous research showing personal agency training can support economic well-being of women. We also find potentially promising impacts on gender-based violence. However, there is some evidence that integration of evidence-based mental health support is important when enhancing agency amongst conflict-affected populations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT04081441 on 09/09/2019.

The impact of an economic empowerment intervention on intimate partner violence among women engaged in sex work in southern Uganda: A cluster randomized control trial.

Women engaged in sex work (WESW) are at heightened risk of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) compared to women in the general population. This study examines the impact of an economic empowerment intervention on IPV among WESW in Southern Uganda. We used data from 542 WESW in Southern Uganda recruited from 19 HIV hotspots between June 2019 and March 2020. Eligible participants were 18+ years old, engaged in sex work-defined as vaginal or anal sexual intercourse in exchange for money, alcohol, or other goods, reported at least one episode of unprotected sexual intercourse in the past 30 days with a paying, casual, or regular sexual partner (spouse, main partner). We analyzed data collected at baseline, 6, and 12months of follow up. To examine the impact of the intervention on IPV, separate mixed-effects logistic regression models were run for each type of IPV (physical, emotional, and sexual) as experienced by participants in the last 90 days. Results show that the intervention was efficacious in reducing emotional and physical IPV as evidenced by a statistically significant intervention main effect for emotional IPV, χ2(1) = 5.96, p = 0.015, and a significant intervention-by-time interaction effect for physical IPV, χ2(2) = 13.19, p < 0.001. To qualify the intervention impact on physical IPV, pairwise comparisons showed that participants who received the intervention had significantly lower levels of physical IPV compared to those in the control group at six months (contrasts = -0.12 (95% CI: -0.22, -0.02), p = 0.011). The intervention, time, and intervention-by-time main effects for sexual IPV were not statistically significant. Our findings suggest economic empowerment interventions as viable strategies for reducing emotional IPV among WESW. However, it is also essential to understand the role of interventions in addressing other forms of IPV especially for key populations at high risk of violence, HIV, and STI. The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT03583541.

Linkages between maternal experience of intimate partner violence and child nutrition outcomes: A rapid evidence assessment.

BACKGROUND: A strong evidence base indicates that maternal caregivers' experience of intimate partner violence [IPV] impacts children's health, cognitive development, and risk-taking behaviors. Our objective was to review peer-reviewed literature describing the associations between a child's indirect exposure to IPV and corresponding nutrition outcomes, with a particular focus on fragile settings in low and middle-income countries [LMICs]. METHODS: We conducted a rapid evidence assessment to synthesize quantitative associations between maternal caregivers' IPV experience and children's nutrition/growth outcomes (birthweight, feeding, and growth indicators). We included peer-reviewed research, published in English or Spanish after the year 2000, conducted in fragile settings in LMICs. RESULTS: We identified 86 publications that fit inclusion criteria. Amongst all associations assessed, a maternal caregiver's experience of combined forms of IPV (physical, sexual and emotional) or physical IPV only, were most consistently associated with lower birthweight, especially during pregnancy. Women of child-bearing age, including adolescents, exposed to at least one type of IPV showed a decreased likelihood of following recommended breastfeeding practices. Lifetime maternal experience of combined IPV was significantly associated with stunting among children under 5 years of age in the largest study included, though findings in smaller studies were inconsistent. Maternal experience of physical or combined IPV were inconsistently associated with underweight or wasting in the first five years. Maternal experience of sexual IPV during pregnancy appeared to predict worsened lipid profiles among children. CONCLUSION: Maternal caregivers' experience of IPV is significantly associated with low birthweight and suboptimal breastfeeding practices, whereas studies showed inconsistent associations with child growth indicators or blood nutrient levels. Future research should focus on outcomes in children aged 2 years and older, investigation of feeding practices beyond breastfeeding, and examination of risk during time periods physiologically relevant to the outcomes. Programmatic implications include incorporation of GBV considerations into nutrition policies and programming and integrating GBV prevention and response into mother and child health and nutrition interventions in LMIC contexts.

Investigating racial disparities in violence risk assessment using the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide-Version 3 (SARA-V3): Structured professional judgment ratings and recidivism among Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals.

Racial disparities in criminal justice outcomes are widely observed. In Canada, such disparities are particularly evident between Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons. The role of formal risk assessment in contributing to such disparities remains a topic of interest to many, but critical analysis has almost exclusively focused on actuarial or statistical risk measures. Recent research suggests that ratings from other common tools, based on the structured professional judgment model, can also demonstrate racial disparities. This study examined risk assessments produced using a widely used structured professional judgment tool, the Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide-Version 3, among a sample of 190 individuals with histories of intimate partner violence. We examined the relationships among race, risk factors, summary risk ratings, and recidivism while also investigating whether participants' racial identity influenced the likelihood of incurring formal sanctions for reported violence. Spousal Assault Risk Assessment Guide-Version 3 risk factor totals and summary risk ratings were associated with new violent charges. Indigenous individuals were assessed as demonstrating more risk factors and were more likely to be rated as high risk, even after controlling for summed risk factor totals and prior convictions. They were also more likely to recidivate and to have a history of at least one reported act of violence that did not result in formal sanctions. The results suggest that structured professional judgment guidelines can produce disparate results across racial groups. The disparities observed may reflect genuine differences in the likelihood of recidivism, driven by psychologically meaningful risk factors which have origins in deep-rooted systemic and contextual factors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Intimate Partner Violence and Help-seeking Behavior Among College Students Attending A Historically Black College and University.

This study provides critical evidence of the diversity of college students' experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV) and their informal and formal help-seeking behaviors at a historically Black college and university (HBCU). The study collected data on college students (N = 266) in fall 2021 using a one-site cross-sectional survey data. Findings revealed that many students at the HBCU reported IPV victimization (68.4%), IPV perpetration (68.0%), and coexperience of IPV victimization and perpetration (61.3%) in the past 12 months, but a few student survivors of IPV sought help from formal or informal support systems. Further, we found that IPV victimization types (e.g., physical, psychological, sexual abuse, and injury) with different severity levels (e.g., less severe or more severe) were differently related to the student survivor's help-seeking behaviors from formal and informal support systems. The findings of this study highlight the importance of supporting students attending HBCUs by addressing their perceptions of IPV help-seeking and coping with different types of IPV victimization via culturally tailored IPV prevention programs. HBCU campuses should promote physical health and mental health services for Black/African American survivors in HBCUs.

Prevalence and acceptability of psychological and/or economic intimate partner violence, and utilization of mental health services by its survivors in Lithuania.

BACKGROUND: Lithuania has one of the highest averages in the European Union when it comes to psychological and/or economic intimate partner violence (PE-IPV). IPV survivors are several times more likely to have mental health conditions than those without IPV experiences. The aim of this article is to study the prevalence, characteristics and attitudes of PE-IPV survivors in Lithuania, and the predictors of them accessing mental health services. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on a national survey representative of the adult population. The survey was implemented by a third-party independent market research company employing an online survey panel. Logistic regression models were used in the analysis. RESULTS: Almost 50% of women in Lithuania experience PE-IPV. Females are significantly more likely to experience it than males. The vast majority of women find PE-IPV unacceptable; however, only one-third of survivors seek any type of help. Only one-tenth approach mental health services, with divorcees being at higher odds of doing so. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to explore predictors and contextual factors of why IPV survivors seek mental healthcare, or not. Policy implications include the need to eliminate IPV and mental health stigma; develop accessible mental health services and effective treatment approaches.

Screening for Intimate Partner Violence.

More than a decade has passed since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) required screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) and related counseling with no co-payment and eliminated insurers' ability to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions, including IPV. While screening for IPV and coverage of services became more feasible after implementation of the ACA, in theory, gaps remain. Nearly half of women in the United States report that they have experienced IPV in their lifetime, but the true number is likely even higher. In this column, I review screening recommendations for IPV and related policies, gaps in research on groups at higher risk, systems-level approaches to increase screening, and recommendations from professional organizations on screening and supporting IPV survivors.

Traumatic brain injury screening and neuropsychological functioning in women who experience intimate partner violence.

Objective: The potential for traumatic brain injury (TBI) to occur as the result of intimate partner violence (IPV) has received increased interest in recent years. This study sought to investigate the possible occurrence of TBI in a group of women who survived IPV and to measure the specific profile of cognitive deficits using standardized neuropsychological measures. Method: A comprehensive questionnaire about abuse history; neuropsychological measures of attention, memory and executive functioning; and measures of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder were given to women who were IPV survivors, women who were sexual assault (SA) survivors, and a comparison group of women who did not experience IPV or SA. Results: Overall, rates of potential TBI, as measured by the HELPS brain injury screening tool, were high and consistent with previous studies. Consistent with potential TBI, lower scores were demonstrated on measures of memory and executive functioning compared to survivors of SA or those not exposed to violence. Importantly, significant differences on measures of memory and executive functioning remained, after controlling for measures of emotion. Of note, cognitive changes were highest among women who experienced non-fatal strangulation (NFS) compared to IPV survivors who did not. Conclusions: Rates of TBI may be high in women who survive IPV, especially those who survive strangulation. Better screening measures and appropriate interventions are needed as well as larger studies that look at social factors associated with IPV.

Prevalence and Correlates of Economic Abuse Among Married Women in a Nigerian Population.

Economic abuse (EA) is a form of intimate partner violence (IPV) whereby abusers employ various tactics to control their partners' ability to acquire, access, and maintain economic resources thus threatening their economic security and potential for self-sufficiency. It poses a global public health challenge as economic concern is a significant reason for the observed persistent high prevalence of IPV given that even when women want to leave abusive relationships, they are less likely to if they lack the means to cater for themselves and their children upon doing so. However, very few studies in Nigeria have focused on EA. The current study assessed the prevalence and correlates of EA among a Nigerian population of married women. Survey responses of 480 randomly selected married women were used for analysis. The prevalence of EA among respondents was found to be 64.2% while that for emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and physical abuse were 40.2%, 17.3%, and 16.7%, respectively. EA was also found to be significantly associated with other forms of IPV such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse. The study findings add to the literature by highlighting the high prevalence of EA among Nigerian women. It also underscores the importance of empowering women to minimize victimization. Study limitations are discussed and directions for future research are presented.

Conditional cash transfers and violence against women - Does the type of violence matter?

While there is scholarly consensus that cash transfer programs can reduce intimate partner violence (IPV), there is little evidence on the effect on other forms of violence against women (VAW). This study uses a regression discontinuity design to examine the effects of a conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in the Philippines on three types of VAW: (i) IPV, (ii) domestic violence excluding IPV (such as own and husband's relatives), and (iii) violence outside home. Although the study finds no significant impacts on IPV or violence outside of home, it reports a measurable decline in emotional domestic violence. Suggestive evidence indicates that the impact could be driven by an increase in household wellbeing, and women's empowerment, bargaining power, and social capital. This evidence confirms the potential of CCT programs to mitigate VAW beyond IPV, such as domestic violence. At the same time, the study suggests that CCT programs' design and context in which they operate may affect their ability to mitigate IPV.

Mapping the disparities in intimate partner violence prevalence and determinants across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective: This study aimed to map disparities in prevalence and associated factors across countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We used National Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data from 26 countries in the region with 114,340 participants. Women and girls in the reproductive age group of 15 to 49 years were included in the study. To map disparities across countries and their provinces, we employed the kriging interpolation technique. We used STATA for data management. Result: The prevalence of physical, emotional and sexual IPV in Sub-Saharan Africa was 30.58, 30.22, and 12.6% respectively, and at least one form of IPV was 42.62%. Disparities were observed across the countries and provinces in each country. Younger age, secondary-level education and above, moderate participation in decision-making, not working out of home, not afraid of the spouse, rich (wealth index), not having a child, high maternal literacy, and rural residence relatively decreased the odds of IPV. The husbands' lower education, alcohol consumption, and high controlling behavior increased the probability of IPV. Conclusion: The prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa is the highest in the world, a signal that the global agenda to end all forms of violence against women will be difficult to achieve. There is a large gap across countries and provinces in each country. Area-specific intervention packages that focus on modifiable factors should be strengthened.

Intimate Partner Violence in Khaliji Women: A Review of the Frequency and Related Factors.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), locally known as Khaliji, is a group of six Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health concern in the aforementioned region, but research that synthesises this trend has remained scarce. The present narrative review examines existing research on the prevalence and frequency of IPV among Khaliji women who inhabit the GCC nations. This review synthesised studies on physical and sexual violence, emotional abuse, and controlling behaviours perpetrated by an intimate partner. The prevalence rates of IPV among Khaliji women were observed to be high: women reported facing different types of abuse from their partners, namely physical (7-71%), sexual (3.7-81%), financial (21.3-26%), and psychological (7.5-89%), which is a culmination of controlling behaviour (36.8%), emotional violence (22-69%), and social violence (34%). Existing studies in the GCC region suggest that the most endorsed IPV was psychological abuse (89%), followed by sexual violence (81%). Qualitative analysis of the content of associated factors resulted in four significant descriptors, such as victim demographics, sociocultural factors, socioeconomic factors, and perpetrator-related issues. Research on IPV is still in its nascent stages, with very few studies emanating from the GCC region. The way forward will require developing culturally appropriate interventions that address the unique risk factors for IPV among the Khaliji population, strengthening institutional responses, and increasing awareness and social support for victims of IPV.

Sexual Violence-Related Stigma, Mental Health, and Treatment-Seeking: A Multimodal Assessment in a Population-Based Study of Young Adults.

Sexual violence (SV) is a stigmatized form of trauma, yet the stigma experiences of those reporting SV are often assumed rather than explicitly measured. We adapted a measure that quantified three key features of SV stigma across three levels: negative self-image (individual), disclosure concerns (interpersonal), and concerns about public attitudes (structural). We administered this measure to a population-based sample of Swedish young adults (N = 453) who reported a history of either sexual assault (SA) or intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV). Among both groups, 89% endorsed at least one item on the stigma scale. Experiences of SV-related stigma were associated with significantly higher symptoms of generalized anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder, with greater perceived need for mental health treatment, and with more shame (measured implicitly via a reaction-time task). Experiences of stigma were negatively associated with symptoms of alcohol misuse. Results suggest that exposure to SV stigma may be a critical, but often overlooked, correlate of post-assault recovery.

Association of Ambient Temperature With the Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence Among Partnered Women in Low- and Middle-Income South Asian Countries.

Importance: Intimate partner violence (IPV), including physical, sexual, and emotional violence, constitutes a critical public health problem, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While climate change could escalate violent events, data quantifying its possible association with IPV are scant. Objective: To evaluate the association of ambient temperature with the prevalence of IPV among partnered women in low- and middle-income countries in South Asia, and to estimate the association of future climate warming with IPV. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study used data from the Demographic and Health Survey and included 194 871 ever-partnered women aged 15 to 49 years from 3 South Asian countries (India, Nepal, and Pakistan). The study applied the mixed-effect multivariable logistic regression model to investigate the association of ambient temperature with IPV prevalence. The study further modeled the change in IPV prevalence under various future climate change scenarios. The data included in the analyses were collected from October 1, 2010, to April 30, 2018, and the current analyses were performed from January 2, 2022, to July 11, 2022. Exposure: Annual ambient temperature exposure for each woman, estimated based on an atmospheric reanalysis model of the global climate. Main Outcomes and Measures: The prevalence of IPV and its types (physical, sexual, and emotional violence) were assessed based on self-reported questionnaires from October 1, 2010, to April 30, 2018, and the changes in the prevalence with climate changes were estimated through the 2090s. Results: The study included 194 871 ever-partnered women aged 15 to 49 years (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [7.6] years; overall IPV prevalence, 27.0%) from 3 South Asian countries. The prevalence of physical violence was highest (23.0%), followed by emotional (12.5%), and sexual violence (9.5%). The annual temperature ranges were mostly between 20 °C and 30 °C. A significant association was found between high ambient temperature and the prevalence of IPV against women, with each 1 °C increase in the annual mean temperature associated with a mean increase in IPV prevalence of 4.49% (95% CI, 4.20%-4.78%). According to the study's projections under the unlimited emissions scenarios (SSPs [shared socioeconomic pathways], as defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] 5-8.5), IPV prevalence would increase by 21.0% by the end of the 21st century, while it would only moderately increase under increasingly stricter scenarios (SSP2-4.5 [9.8%] and SSP1-2.6 [5.8%]). In addition, the projected increases in the prevalence of physical (28.3%) and sexual (26.1%) violence were greater than that of emotional violence (8.9%). In the 2090s, India was estimated to experience the highest IPV prevalence increase (23.5%) among the 3 countries, compared with Nepal (14.8%) and Pakistan (5.9%). Conclusions and Relevance: This cross-sectional, multicountry study provides ample epidemiological evidence to support that high ambient temperature may be associated with the risk of IPV against women. These findings highlight the vulnerabilities and inequalities of women experiencing IPV in low- and middle-income countries in the context of global climate warming.

Recent Economic Intimate Partner Violence and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Sample of U.S. Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent consequence of physical and sexual intimate partner violence (IPV); however, little is known about the unique contributions of economic IPV. Furthermore, women's economic self-sufficiency may explicate the potential relationship between economic IPV and PTSD symptoms. Guided by the Stress Process Theory and Intersectionality, this study examined associations between economic IPV and women's PTSD symptoms and assessed economic self-sufficiency as a mediator. Participants were 255 adult women experiencing IPV recruited from metropolitan Baltimore, MD, and the state of CT who participated in two different studies. Participants completed surveys on IPV, economic self-sufficiency, and PTSD. Path analyses were conducted to examine direct and indirect associations of economic IPV with economic self-sufficiency and PTSD. Economic IPV was uniquely associated with PTSD symptoms while controlling for other forms of IPV. Economic self-sufficiency significantly partially mediated the association between economic IPV and PTSD symptoms such that economic IPV was associated with PTSD symptoms through economic self-sufficiency. Economic IPV may limit women's ability to make autonomous decisions related to finances, which could be distressing. The mental health impact of economic IPV may be particularly debilitating for women with low economic self-sufficiency as their posttraumatic stress occurs within the context of feeling unable to meet their financial goals and also having a partner control their economic resources. Fostering economic empowerment and asset building may be a strengths-based approach to reduce the PTSD symptomatology among women experiencing IPV.

Influence of financial strain on intimate partner violence and the moderating role of employment status among wives in Nigerian military homes.

This study examines the influence of financial strain on intimate partner violence (physical and psychological) experienced by wives of military personnel in Nigeria. The moderating role of employment status was also sought. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire made up of standardized scales with appropriate psychometric properties. Participants of the cross-sectional survey were purposively sampled and comprised 284 female spouses of military personnel in South-Western Nigerian. Results indicated a significant difference in the level of physical [t(282) = 6.775; p < .05] and psychological violence [t(282) = 8.388; p < .05] reported by participants with high and low financial strain. Employment status did not moderate the influence of financial strain on both dimensions of intimate partner violence (ß1 = 0.027; p > .05; ß2 = 0.052; p > .05) and accounted for an insignificant R2 increase of 0.01% and 0.08%, respectively. The practical implications of findings for intervention and future studies were discussed.

Impacts of Culture on Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence Among Fijian Indian Women in the United States.

INTRODUCTION: South Asian women are at a higher risk for experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) in the United States. Fijian Indian (FI) women are part of the diverse South Asian diaspora; however, there are no published data on their experience with IPV. This phenomenological study (a) examined if FI culture influences how women define, experience, and seek help for IPV and (b) identified impacts these themes have on FI women's IPV-related help-seeking, behaviors in regard to U.S. health systems and law enforcement. METHODS: Ten FI women in California, 18 years and older, who either were born in Fiji or had parents born in Fiji, were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. Semistructured interviews took place either face-to-face or via Zoom. Transcribed interview data underwent reflective thematic analysis by two members of the research team. RESULTS: Normalizing and silencing of IPV events are bolstered by cultural practices of (a) familism/collectivism that ask women to prioritize family intactness over their own emotional and physical safety, (b) traditional patriarchal gender roles, (c) threats of shame and judgment within the community, and (d) the gendered hierarchy tenets of some forms of Hinduism. FI women are more inclined to seek help for IPV from within versus outside the family, with healthcare providers and law enforcement described as women's last choices for assistance. CONCLUSIONS: Although a small and regionalized immigrant community, this study of FI women reflects the importance of health and human service providers' understanding of the histories and cultural nuances of the local immigrant populations they serve.

Experiences of Exploitation and Associations With Economic Abuse in Adolescent Dating Relationships: Findings From a U.S. Cross-Sectional Survey.

Adolescent relationship abuse (ARA) (i.e. physical, sexual, psychological, or economic abuse in the context of romantic relationships) is associated with adverse health outcomes, including anxiety, depression, suicidality, unintended pregnancy, and substance misuse. A related phenomenon, reproductive coercion involves interference with the reproductive decision making of a partner with the intention of promoting pregnancy or controlling outcomes of a pregnancy. Reproductive coercion is associated with unintended pregnancy, partner violence, and sexually transmitted infections. Little is known about the intersection between economic ARA, sexual exploitation, and reproductive coercion. This paper explores the intersections between reproductive coercion, transactional sex, and economic abuse victimization in adolescent dating relationships. In an online survey, 1,752 adolescents (ages 13-17) were asked about economic adolescent relationship abuse (educational, employment and financial interference), transactional sex, reproductive coercion, and contraceptive access within their relationships. We assessed associations with chi-square tests and logistic regression analysis. Youth who experienced economic ARA (70%, 1,232) reported financial dependence on their partner, contraceptive access, and reproductive coercion (74-83%; p-values<0.001) more often than their counterparts without economic ARA. Adolescents experiencing economic abuse were more likely to report transactional sex (aOR = 2.76, CI [2.12, 3.60], p < .001), depending on a partner to pay for contraception or birth control (aOR = 2.20, CI [1.71, 2.84], p < .001), and reproductive coercion (aOR = 3.20, CI [2.37, 4.32], p < .001). Youth-serving providers and agencies should be aware of intersections between economic ARA, transactional sex, financial dependence, and reproductive coercion, particularly for adolescents with health-related social needs.

Someone you can count on: Examining the mediating effect of social support on economic abuse and depression.

The aim of this study was to examine whether social support mediated the relationship between economic abuse, a form of intimate partner violence, and mental health, specifically depression, among pregnant women. This cross-sectional study used a sample of 193 pregnant women living in the United States who participated in an online Qualtrics panel survey in January 2021. Hayes Process Macro was used to assess a mediation model. Economic abuse was associated with increased odds of depressive sympto ms and fewer perceived social supports. Social support mediated the relationship between economic abuse and depression. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed. Notably, research focused on economic abuse and efforts to respond to it need to pay particularly close attention to the role that social supports may play in survivor's overall well-being, as well as the impact that economic abuse may have on survivors' perceptions of social support. This may be particularly true for pregnant women experiencing economic abuse for whom social support-related interventions have yielded positive health outcomes.