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

Abstract #110300

Kimberly E. Bylander, MPH¹, Susie Hoffman, DrPH¹, Sharlene Beckford, PhD¹, Joanne E. Mantell, PhD¹, Tamyra Carroll¹, and Michael H. Augenbraun, MD, FACP². (1) HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, NYS Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr., Unit 15, New York City, NY 10032, 212 923-7281, kebdash@onebox.com, (2) Departments of Medicine and Preventive Medicine & Community Health, SUNY Health Science Center, Box 37, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203

Introduction: A growing body of literature points to the increased risk of relationship violence faced by immigrant women, due to migration-related social isolation, partner-dependent legal status, and reluctance to seek help for fear of deportation. However, little is known about specific risks faced by West Indian immigrants, who represent a growing proportion of the foreign-born population in several U.S. cities and emigrate from countries with high reported rates of partner violence. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 36 women and 20 men born in the English-Speaking Caribbean and attending STI treatment services in New York City. These assessed participants' experience of violence and perceptions of differences in the scope of and attitudes towards partner violence between their home countries and the U.S. Interviews were audio taped, transcribed, and coded using QSR NVIVO software. Results: History of abuse was common. More than half the women (n=20) reported ever being physically abused, sexually coerced or assaulted by a partner, and one-third of the men (n=7) reported ever perpetrating abuse. Both women and men perceived male perpetration of violence as less common and accepted amongst West Indian couples in the U.S. than in their countries of origin. Both attributed this to more effective police response and prosecution of offenders compared to their countries of origin. Conclusions: Increasing awareness of law enforcement procedures regarding domestic violence can play an important role in changing community attitudes and behaviors regarding the acceptability of partner violence.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, participants will be able to

• List typical barriers to immigrant women’s ability to seek help from law enforcement officials to end partner violence. 2)Recognize the role and importance of consistent law enforcement response in addressing intimate partner violence within a community. 3)Identify factors that increase West Indian women’s ability to seek help from law enforcement officials to reduce partner violence as compared to other immigrant groups.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Immigrants

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.