Women in Guatemala seeking help after abuse

Introduction: Violence against women remains a serious public health challenge worldwide, yet there is a significant gap in the literature describing abuse in developing countries. Intimate partner violence (IPV) and services to address this issue are largely invisible to program and policy planners. In this study, we describe perceptions of IPV from the point of view of Guatemalan women in Santiago Atítlan in order to develop a research agenda to address the problem. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with women (n=15) with direct or anecdotal experience of abuse. Participants were identified through purposive sampling. Due to the sensitive nature of the information and known mistrust of the government, interviews were not audio recorded. Detailed field and interview notes were analyzed with NVivo 9 software using a grounded theory approach. Results: Five themes emerged from the participant interviews: (1) All respondents reported alcohol abuse as the root cause of IPV, (2) Women felt trapped and hopeless and reported "corrupt law enforcement" prevented legal protection, (3) Reports of verbal and mental abuse coincided with reported physical abuse, (4) Husbands withheld financial support from their wives, who were rarely employed outside the home, and (5) Women reported suffering in silence and fear. Conclusions: For Guatemalan women, "corrupt" law enforcement, financial dependence on their husbands, and silence surrounding IPV make it extremely difficult for them to seek help after abuse. Local perspectives can assist the development of socioculturally appropriate support services for both men and women to address these serious issues in Santiago Atítlan.