Cultural determinants of intimate partner violence among Samoan immigrant populations, a qualitative investigation

Background:  Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health issue. Recent US studies have indicated that domestic violence is widespread with lifetime prevalence rates ranging between 2%-55% for those indicating suffering an event in the past year. To date the influence of Samoan cultural determinants of IPV are limited. This investigation aimed at uncovering possible Samoan specific cultural determinants to IPV among a sample of Samoan immigrants living in the South Bay of Los Angeles County

Methods: Standardized semi-structured protocols were selected to be utilized as guides for qualitative data collection. Community partner representatives and key informants were selected as IPV question content reviewers to ensure comprehension by the community participants. Cultural determinant information would be obtained via focus group interviews conducted by research team members, key informants and community partner representatives.

Results: Cultural determinants of IPV included the following content areas: alcohol abuse, young age, outside sexual partners and positive attitudes toward violence. Specific Samoan cultural factors will be discussed.

Conclusions: Information obtained through such types of studies can serve to operationalize, and comprehensively measure the specific influence of cultural values on Samoan IPV risk behaviors to better understand these relationships, and to apply this new knowledge to the development of future interventions.