Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106780

Ariel Ahart, MPP, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 7040 Bishkek Place, Dulles, VA 20189-7040, 966-312-541-550, aahart@jhsph.edu and Adnan A. Hyder, MD, MPH, PhD, Department of International Health, Division of Community Health and Health Systems, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Suite E-8132, Baltimore, MD 21205.

The goal of the study was to explore the role of reproductive health care workers in responding to domestic violence during the period of pregnancy in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The study was conducted by a student investigator in fulfillment of a DrPH degree from the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University and was carried out in cooperation with a local women's crisis shelter and a national professional association for primary health care clinics. From August 2004 – March 2005, qualitative interviews were conducted with 60 reproductive health care providers, 30 pregnant women, 10 key experts, and 15 survivors of violence in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to assess beliefs about domestic violence during pregnancy; help-seeking behavior; and the role of reproductive health care providers in responding to violence.

Results: The majority of respondents had knowledge of friends, family members, or patients who were in abusive relationships or had personally experienced partner violence themselves. Domestic violence was most commonly defined in terms of physical acts although many respondents described psychological forms and identified stress as a negative health consequence. Alcohol and poverty were cited as the root causes of family conflict. Among ethnic Kyrgyz, the mother-in-law often played a role in fueling or mediating violent conflict. Few health providers actively intervene in cases of violence. Faith in police is low. Female family members were most commonly mentioned as a source of support for victims of violence. Few respondents had knowledge of existing legal protections or community resources for victims of violence.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Understand attitudes and beliefs about domestic violence from the perspective of reproductive health care providers, pregnant women, and survivors of violence in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.
• 2.Understand beliefs about help-seeking behavior and the role of health care providers from the perspective of health care providers, pregnant women and survivors of violence in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia.

Keywords: Violence, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Handout (.ppt format,