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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Anita Raj, PhD, Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St., T2W, Boston, MA 02118, 617-638-6467, anitaraj@bu.edu

OBJECTIVES: To assess domestic violence help-seeking behaviors and barriers to help-seeking among battered South Asian women residing in Greater Boston. METHODS: This study was conducted in two phases: Phase 1 involved cross-sectional survey data collection with South Asian women in relationships with men (N=208); this survey assessed domestic violence in the current relationship and related help-seeking behaviors. Twenty-one percent of Phase 1 participants (n=44) reported domestic violence, and help-seeking behavior prevalence was assessed from these. Phase 2 involved in-depth interviews with women reporting a history of IPV (N=23); interviews explored women's experiences with domestic violence and help-seeking and were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. RESULTS: The majority of Phase 1 participants (52%, n/N=23/44) reported no acquisition of support or services assessed. Further, no Phase 1 participant reported use of criminal justice services, and only 2 had ever contacted a domestic violence program. Phase 2 qualitative findings indicate that when help-seeking does occur in this population, it is elicited by increasing severity in violence and/or thoughts of separation from the batterer; women typically initially seek help from within the community which then linked them into more formal services. However, among women attempting to separate from their batterer, resource constraints at the programmatic level and restrictive immigration laws were cited as major hurdles they were facing towards independence. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this study speak to the need for a multi-level approach to support battered South Asian women in the US that goes beyond the current criminal justice model of intervention.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify diverse types of formal and informal help-seeking behaviors used by immigrant South Asian battered women residing in the US.
• Understand why current domestic violence efforts in the US are under-utilized by immigrant South Asian battered women residing in the US.
• Prioritize potential approaches for outreach and intervention for immigrant South Asian battered women residing in the US.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Asian Women

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered