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The study contributed to filling a knowledge gap in the area of intimate partner violence (IPV). Previous studies conducted in Ghana have investigated the causes and types of IPV, leaving a gap on the consequences the violence had on the victims. Using a population of local economic migrants (hereafter, head-load carriers), a qualitative design wit...
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In trauma, fear as a basic emotion that evokes avoidance after exposure to a traumatic event is important for posttraumatic process. Another emotion causing avoidance is disgust. Despite the fact that disgust also plays an important role in trauma, there is limited information about how it is experienced during and after exposure to the traumatic e...
Citations
... Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to describe, understand, and interpret the meanings of informants' experiences (Tuohy et al., 2013). This approach helped to identify themes across the data and establish a link between DV experiences and current or previous health outcomes (Adomako, 2021). Four stages of interpretive phenomenology were followed: (1) The transcribed data was read and re-read thoroughly, and notes were taken; ...
Purpose
There has been an increasing awareness of Domestic Violence (DV) in China following the announcement of the First Anti-Domestic Violence Law, in 2015 yet, there has been limited in-depth research concerning DV in China -with most focused on prevalence and risk factors. This study aims to capture female DV victims’ experience of violence in China, and identify the perceived causes and impacts of DV.
Methods
This qualitative research, conducted from June to September 2019 in Hangzhou, China, consisted of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 30 women who had experience of DV. Social cognitive theory served as the theoretical framework and Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis to analyze the data.
Results
The most common types of physical violence reported included hitting, throwing objects at women, choking, kicking, and slapping. Psychological violence consisted of insults and denigration, physical threats, and enforcement of social isolation. Sexual violence consisted of forced sexual behaviors against women’s willingness. All informants suffered physical or psychological impacts from the violence experienced. Perceived causes of DV included the perpetrator’s personality and childhood experience of violence; victims’ self-blame; conflict between couples that include those concerning raising children and household finances; family conflicts, especially with parents-in-law; social factors including rural-to-urban migration for work, social norms and constraints, and legal constraints to separation. 80% of informants reported that they still cohabit with their abusive partner.
Conclusion
Our findings provide insights into potential preventative measures for DV from individual, family, and social perspectives, and the need to de-stigmatize and support victims of DV in China.
... Previous studies show that among Kayayei, sexual violence was a common phenomenon, and even for consensual sex, their partners often object to the use of contraception. 15 In 2015, the Government of Ghana drafted a policy whereby there was commitment by all stakeholders to increase the modern contraceptive prevalence rate to 30% among married women and 40% among unmarried sexually active women by 2020, according to the Ghana Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan in 2016-2020. There was no national survey at the end of the program to evaluate the outcome of the costed implementation program. ...
Background and Aims
Female head‐porters are a cohort of women who have migrated from their rural communities into commercial cities in search of better economic opportunities. These young women are vulnerable to untoward reproductive experiences. The study assesses the reproductive experiences of women and the factors influencing contraceptive use among them.
Methods
A cross‐sectional study was conducted from January to May 2021 in the Kumasi Metropolis (n = 280). The study included 280 female head‐porters within the reproductive age of 15–49 years. Convenience sampling and consecutive recruitment were used to obtain the needed sample size. All statistical significance was declared at a p‐value of <0.05.
Results
Forty‐two percent of respondents had a history of contraceptive use (all modern or artificial contraception). The study found gravidity (p < 0.0001), parity (p < 0.0001), number of sexual partners post‐migration (p = 0.008), and age of first sex (p = 0.033) to be associated with contraceptive use among female head‐porters.
Conclusion
Fourteen percent had experienced sexual exploitation post‐migration, the first sexual encounter of one‐third of participants were nonconsensual, 19% had sex at or before 16 years, and 72% were aware of contraception. Reproductive experiences such as gravidity and sexual debut (age at first sex) have a significant influence on the use of contraception.
... So men have, in the past, sometimes associated contraceptive use with spousal infidelity, and this has been seen in more recent literature from neighboring Nigeria [7,8]. Additional research shows that women may not discuss their contraceptive decisions with their partners [9,10]. The nature of the relationships between partners has been suggested as the main driver of CCU [10]. ...
Background
An estimated one-third of women in Ghana use contraceptives without the knowledge of their partners, a phenomenon known as Covert Contraceptive Use (CCU). Most research on CCU to date has focused on individual women to the neglect of the role of health system. This study explores CCU in urban poor communities of Accra, Ghana, from the experiences and perspectives of health providers.
Methods
Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with health care providers in both the public and private sectors at multiple levels, from the community clinic to the tertiary hospital, to gain insights into the strategies women use and the ways in which the health system supports the practice of CCU.
Results
Five major thematic areas emerged: use of easily concealed-methods, discrete-access-and-information-keeping, time-of-day, non-verbal-communication and use of relationships. The study further revealed that fear, mistrust, shyness, myths, and misperceptions regarding contraceptives explain CCU among women in the communities that the providers serve.
Conclusion
Importantly, disclosure of methods used by providers without women’s consent could potentially lead to violent outcomes for both women and the providers. Our results highlight the pivotal role that providers play in confidentially supporting women’s choices regarding the use of contraceptives.
... All studies included female populations from South Africa (n = 5), Ghana (n = 3), Uganda (n = 1), and Cameroon (n = 1). The studies spanned the years 2010 to 2021, and included subjective reporting of physical-IPV induced TBI symptoms such as headaches (19,21,25), sleep disruptions (21)(22)(23)25), and ophthalmic injuries (23,25). ...
... All studies included female populations from South Africa (n = 5), Ghana (n = 3), Uganda (n = 1), and Cameroon (n = 1). The studies spanned the years 2010 to 2021, and included subjective reporting of physical-IPV induced TBI symptoms such as headaches (19,21,25), sleep disruptions (21)(22)(23)25), and ophthalmic injuries (23,25). ...
... All studies included female populations from South Africa (n = 5), Ghana (n = 3), Uganda (n = 1), and Cameroon (n = 1). The studies spanned the years 2010 to 2021, and included subjective reporting of physical-IPV induced TBI symptoms such as headaches (19,21,25), sleep disruptions (21)(22)(23)25), and ophthalmic injuries (23,25). ...
Background
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a gendered form of violence that has been linked with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The prevalence of IPV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is estimated to be one of the highest globally. Yet, little is known about the association between IPV and TBI in the SSA context. In this scoping review, we examine the intersection between IPV and TBI in SSA to identify gaps, as well as intervention opportunities.
Methods
Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses—Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines to guide our analyses and reporting, we searched for published articles indexed in the four largest and most comprehensive library databases: Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and PsychInfo. Given the increasing attention that has been placed on gender disparities and health in recent years, we focused on studies published between 2010 and 2021.
Results
Our search yielded 5,947 articles and 1,258 were IPV and SSA related. Out of this, only ten examined the intersection between IPV and TBI. All focused on outcomes in female populations from South Africa (n = 5), Ghana (n = 3), Uganda (n = 1), and Cameroon (n = 1). They were a mix of qualitative studies (n = 3), neuro-imaging/biomarker studies (n = 3), case studies/reports (n = 2), quantitative surveys (n = 1) and mixed qualitative/quantitative study (n = 1). Six studies evaluated subjective reporting of IPV-induced TBI symptoms such as headaches, sleep disruptions, and ophthalmic injuries. Three examined objective assessments and included Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) dysregulation detected by salivary cortisol levels, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to evaluate brain connectivity and white matter changes. One final study took a forensic anthropology lens to document an autopsy case report of IPV-induced mortality due to physical head and face trauma.
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate that both subjective and objective assessments of IPV and TBI are possible in “resource-limited” settings. The combination of these outcomes will be critical for viewing IPV through a clinical rather than a cultural lens, and for substantiating the assertion that gender, is indeed, a social determinant of brain health.
... It is a significant public health issue, a barrier to gender equality, and a hindrance to personal and social development (García-Moreno & Stöckl, 2009;Kabir & Khan, 2019). IPV does not just refer to sexual abuse but also physical and psychological violence suffered by women at the hands of their spouses or partners (Adomako & Darkwa Baffour, 2021;Dokkedahl et al., 2019). ...
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a highly sensitive issue in India, where society is patriarchal and primarily segmented into castes/tribes. This study aims to measure and explain the economic inequality in IPV against women in two social groups: backward classes (Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Others Backward Classes) and forward classes (Others), using cross-sectional data from the National Family Health Survey-4 conducted in 2015–16. Economic inequality has been measured using the rate ratio, the concentration index (CI), and the concentration curve. In addition, concentration index has been decomposed to explain the economic inequality in IPV. Economic inequality was relatively higher among the women from the forward classes (CI: −0.30) than those from the backward classes (CI: −0.20). Woman’s education (25%), alcohol consumption by husbands (19.6%), and region of residence (18.7%) were the major contributors to economic inequality in IPV among backward class women. However, for forward class women, woman’s education (23.2%), region of residence (15.6%), parental IPV (14.6%), husband’s education (9.7%), and exposure to mass media were significant contributors to economic inequality in IPV (7%). In conclusion, there is a need for appropriate interventions and programs focused on reducing economic inequality in IPV against women from both backward and forward classes.
... In Sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana in particular, intimate partner violence is a public health and social problem. Some studies (Addo-Lartey et al., 2019;Adomako & Darkwa Baffour, 2019;Dako-Gyeke et al., 2019;Dery, 2019;Dickson, Ameyaw, & Darteh, 2020;Fuseini, Afizu, Yakubu, & Nachinab, 2019;Owusu-Addo et al., 2018;E. Y. Tenkorang, 2019;E. ...
... Even though there is literature about the perpetration of IPV in Sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana (Addo-Lartey et al., 2019;Adomako & Darkwa Baffour, 2019;Amegbor, Yankey, Rosenberg, & Sabel, 2020;Apatinga & Tenkorang, 2020;Baffoe-Whyte & Sossou, 2019;Cofie, 2018;Dako-Gyeke et al., 2019;Dery, 2019;Dickson et al., 2020;Doat, Negarandeh, & Hasanpour, 2019;Issahaku, 2015;Owusu-Addo et al., 2018;E. Y. Tenkorang, 2019), no single study has been done with the factors that led to male partners' perpetration of violence against their female HIV positive partners. ...
Background: Men’s experiences of perpetration of intimate partner violence against their female heterosexual partners following disclosure of their HIV positive status is a global health problem. The forms of IPV and factors associated with IPV following the disclosure are under-researched. In this article, we aim to explore and describe the forms of and factors associated with men’s experiences of perpetration of IPV against their female partners following the disclosure of seropositive HIV status. Methods: An exploratory qualitative research design using an interpretive phenomenological analysis method was employed for the data collection from participants (men) who perpetrated violence against their HIV positive women. The study setting was done in two HIV clinics in two Hospitals. The study population consisted of all men whose intimate partners had been diagnosed HIV positive and made known to their partners and are seeking healthcare at the two HIV clinics. Purposive sampling technique was employed to recruit participants for the study. An interpretive phenomenological approach was employed for the collection and analysis from eighteen men whose partners had recently disclosed their seropositive HIV status. An interview guide was the tool employed for the data collection. Data collection and analysis were undertaken concurrently. Results: Most of the participants identified and described the forms of and factors associated with IPV influencing them to perpetrate IPV. Five themes and sub-themes emerged and these include; emotional factors, spousal related factors, Social related factors, Sex-related factors and some forms of IPV which were identified by participants. Each of these themes has subthemes. Conclusion: Men use different forms of IPV violence in abusing women who disclosure their HIV seropositive status. Several factors as identified in this study accounts for this partner violence. Forms and factors associated with intimate partner violence should be used as a guide in formulating policies and developing a guide that can be utilised in the early detection of IPV in this category of women.
Objective: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a priority public health emergency response for women during humanitarian crisis situations as they face the risk of being neglected in health care systems of the country of arrival. This study aimed to investigate Syrian refugee women’s utilization of SRH services, through Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) approach, provided by a team including health mediators at Women Health Counseling Units (WHCU) established as part of a collaborative project. Methods: Questionnaires were administered face-to-face by Arabic-speaking Turkish female interviewers to 413 Syrian women who previously received services from the WHCU. Descriptive statistics were presented and Pearson chi-square tests were conducted to analyse bivariate differences between categorical variables. Results: Child marriages were common among more than half (%59) of the participants. Majority of deliveries took place in the public hospitals (95%) and as attended by a doctor (93%). The percentage of participants using modern contraceptive methods was found to be 39,7% who were more frequently from younger age groups. However, the withdrawal method was relatively more prevalent among older participants. Conclusion: Incorporating the MISP approach into primary health care practices as an integral part of response efforts in humanitarian crises, is considered as a promising model for strengthening refugee women’s access to culturally and gender sensitive SRH services and contribute to fulfillment of SRH rights. Employing refugee health mediators is assessed to function as a crucial link between the refugee community and the health care system enhancing the accessibility and effectiveness of SRH services provided. Key words: Sexual and reproductive health, MISP, refugees, Syrian women, humanitarian crises
In this article, we apply the theory of feminist care ethics to the issue of workplace responses to domestic and family violence (DFV). Specifically, we aim to understand how prevailing approaches to the intersection of violence and work can be reoriented to centre feminist principles of care, distinct from the masculinist logics on which they currently rely. Our discussion draws on semi-structured interviews with experts on the work–violence interface, primarily based in the non-metropolitan Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. It identifies three key themes, consistent with feminist care ethics, which can be used as a basis for reimagining workplace responses to DFV: 1) the importance of attentiveness as a practice of care; 2) the need to reimagine employer responsibility for a more caring and gender-equal workplace; and 3) the value of flexibility in responding to DFV. We argue that the data highlight the need for workplaces to structurally embed care in their initiatives on DFV. The analysis also points to the transformative potential of approaches in which care is centred, though, at present, these examples are the exception rather than the rule.
Using focus group discussion with participants from 4 NGOs in Ghana that focus on anti-domestic violence advocacy and survivor and victims support work, this research takes a closer look at the experiences organizations have while accessing government supported available institutional resources. Findings suggest that while legislation has indeed created the space for women's rights in Ghana, the pathways towards justice in both the north and the south are thwarted by an underfunded and poorly managed bureaucracy, complicated by an overall patriarchal attitude. There is thus a need to increase gender sensitivity training among all ranks and sections of government institutions and bureaucracy. Research findings also suggest a need for increased funding and the establishment of a well-organized network between survivors, organizations and various government departments and legal aid to create efficient networks that facilitate faster reporting, communication, and delivery of justice. More importantly, research participant directed policy recommendations suggest a renewed attempt to strengthening existing laws, the creation of an easily accessible survivor support fund that involves less bureaucratic navigation and a goal towards building self-efficacy and skills, and an institutional process that involves survivors in policy planning and implementation.
The physical, sexual and reproductive, and mental health complications posed by Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) raise problems that must be addressed by victims. This study presents qualitative data on the coping strategies employed by 20 head-load carriers (females who carry loads in a saucepan on the head for a fee) who were survivors of IPV. The findings indicate that the head-load carriers adopted strategies such as apologizing or fighting back (interpersonal coping); remaining silent (intrapersonal coping); seeking support from family, friends, or institutions (socio-personal coping); engaging in prayer and hope; and leaving the relationship. Future research and policy implications are also discussed.
