 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Lynette J. Menezes, PhD, Community & Family Health, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, MDC 56, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, 813-903-9615, lmenezes@hsc.usf.edu and Martha Lee Coulter, MSW, DrPH, Department of Community and Family Health, The James and Jennifer Harrell Center for the Study of Domestic Violence, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, MDC 56, Tampa, FL 33612.
Although the Indian population is mainly rural, little is known about how rural women define abuse. Further, it is essential to incorporate women’s language for accurate reporting and screening for abuse. Using an ethnographic design and social constructionism as a theoretical basis, this study sought to understand how rural women in Central India perceive abuse during pregnancy and at other times. Tape recorded in-depth interviews (N=43) and three focus group interviews were conducted with women attending ante-natal, maternal and child health and out-patient clinics in five Primary Health Care Centers and one rural hospital. Additionally, seven physicians, twelve auxiliary-nurse midwives and four policewomen were interviewed in-depth. Ethnographic analysis revealed that rural Indian women do not construct abuse in traditional researcher terminology but use a distinct lexicon to identify the diverse abusive acts perpetrated by the husband and in-laws. Construction of abuse also varied based on whether it was during pregnancy or not. Triangulation of data from multiple sources identified dominant cultural constructions based on emergent themes including: tolerance for abuse; traditional understandings of gender roles; patriarchal perceptions among men and community members; learned helplessness among women; lack of resources and social support; and role of alcohol in abusive behavior. Findings raise methodological implications regarding measurement of abuse among rural women in previous quantitative research. Ethnography allows the development of a screening tool for abuse using women’s language. Ethnographic data from multiple sources can promote policy change to develop much needed public health intervention programs for rural women in developing nations.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Violence, Maternal Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Handout (.ppt format, 492.0 kb)