Violence permeating daily life: a qualitative study investigating perspectives on violence among women in Karachi, Pakistan

Perceptions on violence against women and its impacts on mental health and response mechanisms among community-based stakeholders: a qualitative study from Nepal

BACKGROUND

Violence against women (VAW) is a significant public health problem. With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the frequency and severity of VAW has escalated globally. Approximately one in four women in Nepal have been exposed to either physical, psychological, and/or sexual violence in their lifetime, with husbands or male partners being the perpetrators in most cases. VAW prevention has been under-researched in low- and middle-income countries, including Nepal. This study aims to explore the perspectives of local stakeholders, including healthcare providers and survivors of violence in Madhesh Province. The overarching goal is to provide insights for designing prevention and support programs that are acceptable to communities and cater to the needs of survivors.

METHODS

An explorative qualitative study was conducted in Madhesh Province, southern Nepal. A total of 21 interviews, including 15 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with health care providers, three IDIs with women seeking general or maternal and child health services at health care centres, three key informant interviews with the local stakeholders working in the field of VAW, and one focus group discussion with violence survivors, were conducted in Nepali by trained field interviewers. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, translated into English, and analysed using content analysis.

RESULTS

VAW, particularly physical violence, was a common experience in the study area. Sociocultural traditions such as dowry, child marriages and son preference were identifiable triggers for VAW, causing significant physical injuries and mental health problems, including suicide. Health care providers reported that violence survivors often hide their experiences of violence and do not seek any kind of help. Women feared that violence would increase in frequency and intensity if their perpetrators found out that they had disclosed their experiences of violence to health care providers. Local stakeholders emphasized the importance of engaging community leaders and garnering support from both women and men in interventions designed to reduce VAW and its impacts on mental health.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants reported that verbal and physical violence is often perceived as a normal part of women's lives. Women should be made aware of available support services and empowered and supported to increase access and uptake of these services. Additionally, more individual-based counselling sessions that encourage women to escape violence and its mental health consequences while maintaining privacy and confidentiality are recommended.

Sociocultural Determinants of Attitudes Toward Domestic Violence Among Women and Men in Afghanistan: Evidence from Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey 2015

Domestic violence (DV), also commonly referred to as intimate partner violence or spousal abuse, is a global public health issue that affects the physical, psychological, sexual, and reproductive health of women. We examined the sociocultural factors associated with the attitude toward DV perpetrated against women in Afghanistan. We used data from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey, consisting of an ever-married sample of 29,461 women and 10,760 men aged 15 to 49 years. Our dependent variable, attitude toward DV, was determined from responses on acceptance of wife-beating in five scenarios, and the group of socio cultural factors was selected based on evidence from previous studies. Our main analytical method was logistic regression, using the survey design. Our findings indicated that factors such as an increase in years of education and living in a wealthier household reduce the likelihood of acceptance of DV among men and women. Ethnicity was also associated with the attitude toward DV, but the magnitude varied across ethnic groups and gender. Furthermore, an increase in age and living in the urban area were associated with nonjustification of DV among women, but not among men. On the other hand, frequent exposure to the media increases the likelihood of acceptance of DV among men, but not for women. The result of the present study suggests that there are economic, social, and cultural aspects to the attitude toward DV among men and women in Afghanistan. Therefore, policies designed at changing the socio cultural perception of the people are of importance in other to bring about a change in attitude, and even combat the prevalence of DV.

Exposure to domestic violence and the risk of developing depression within 6 months postpartum in Bangladesh

PURPOSE

Domestic violence (DV) by husbands or in-laws is a recognized problem in many countries and is associated with a wide range of adverse mental health outcomes. However, detailed knowledge on the relationship between DV experience and postpartum depression (PPD) is essential to design appropriate interventions. Therefore, this study assesses the relationship between maternal experience of DV perpetrated by husbands or in-laws and PPD in Bangladesh.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted from October to December 2019 among 497 mothers within the first 6 months postpartum who attended a health center in Rajshahi City Corporation, Bangladesh. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to identify the associations after controlling for potential confounders.

RESULTS

The prevalence of PPD in this sample was 34% within the first 6 months after birth; 58.6% of mothers reported having experienced any form of DV in their lifetime. Maternal experience of any form of DV (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19-2.93) was associated with PPD, as were experiences of any physical DV (AOR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.40-3.59), emotional DV (AOR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.34-3.19), and controlling behavior (AOR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.08-2.66). Additionally, the likelihood of PPD significantly increased among women who experienced more forms of DV.

CONCLUSION

DV perpetrated by husband and/or in-laws is highly prevalent and significantly associated with PPD in Bangladesh. Strategies in developing interventions for improving maternal mental health should consider DV perpetrated by either husband or in-laws.

Violence against Afghan women by husbands, mothers-in-law and siblings-in-law/siblings: Risk markers and health consequences in an analysis of the baseline of a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Violence by mothers-in-law, as well as husbands, is a recognised problem in many countries. It has been given little attention in research on violence and its importance as a health problem, and aggravator of husband violence, has not been well established. Our aim was to describe patterns and the frequency of mother-in-law and sibling-in-law/sibling physical violence in relation to physical violence from husbands, and to describe risk characteristics and associated health behaviours of women with different abuse exposures.

METHODS

1,463 women aged 18-48 were recruited into a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate a women empowerment intervention in 6 villages of Kabul and Nangarhar provinces. The women were interviewed at baseline. The analysis uses bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS

932 of the women were currently married. Of these, 14% of women experienced mother-in-law physical violence and 23.2% of women experienced physical spousal violence in the previous 12 months. For 7.0% of women, these exposures were combined. Physical violence was associated with food insecurity and having to borrow for food, being in a polygamous marriage, living with their mother-in-law, as well as province of residence (higher in Nangarhar). Women who had earnings were relatively protected. Whilst most mothers-in-law were described in positive terms, those who used physical violence were much less likely to be described so and a quarter were described as very strict and controlling and 16.8% as cruel. Overall slightly more women described their husband in positive terms than their mother-in-law, but there was a very strong correlation between the way in which husbands were perceived and the violence of their mothers. Women's mental health (depression, suicidal thoughts and PTSD symptoms score), self-rated general health, disability and beating of their children were all strongly associated with intimate partner violence (IPV) exposure. The strength of the association was much greater for all of these problems if the IPV was combined with physical violence from a mother-in-law or sibling-in-law/sibling. Experienced alone, violence from the mother-in-law or a sibling-in-law/sibling was associated with an elevated risk of all of these problems except depression.

INTERPRETATION

Mother-in-law and sibling-in-law/sibling physical violence is an appreciable problem among the women studied in Afghanistan, linked to poverty. It has a major impact on women's health, componding the heath impact of IPV. In this setting conceptualising women's risk and exposure to violence at home as only in terms of IPV is inadequate and the framing of domestic violence much more appropriately captures women's risks and exposures. We suggest that it may be fruitful for many women to target violence prevention at the domestic unit rather than just at women and their husbands.

Violence against women in different stages of the life cycle in Brazil: an exploratory study

Objective:

The aim of this study was to describe the profile of violence against women in different life cycles, according to the sociodemographic characteristics of the victims and offenders.

Methods:

A cross-sectional and exploratory study was performed based on 1,388 police reports during a four-year period, in a metropolitan area of Northeast Brazil. The dependent variable was the type of aggression suffered by the victims. The independent variables were sociodemographic characteristics of the victims and offenders. Statistical analysis included the χ2 test (p < 0.05) and the decision tree analysis, through the Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) algorithm.

Results:

Cases of physical abuse (n = 644) were the most common, followed by threat (n = 415) and verbal aggression (n = 285). The violence profiles could be explained by the relationship between victims and offenders (p < 0.001) and age of the victims (p = 0.026 in Node 1; p = 0.019 in Node 3).

Conclusion:

It was observed that women in different stages of life are more exposed to different types of violence.

Suicide and deliberate self-harm in Pakistan: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Suicide is a major global public health problem with more than 800,000 incidents worldwide annually. Seventy-five percent of the global suicides occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Pakistan is a LMIC where information on suicidal behavior is limited. The aim of the review is to map available literature on determinants, risk factors and other variables of suicidal behavior in Pakistan.

METHOD

This study was based on Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework of scoping review, combining peer reviewed publications with grey literature. Ten databases including Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts (ASSIA), Cochrane Trials Register (CRG), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), National Library of Medicine Gateway (NLMG), ExcerptaMedica (EMBASE), National Library of Medicine's MEDLINE (PUBMED), PSYCHINFO, Social Science Citation Index and Science Citation Index (SCI) and Pakmedinet.com were searched from the beginning of their time frames until December 2016 using a combination of key terms. The inclusion criteria included studies of various study designs covering different aspects of suicidal behavior in English language.

RESULTS

Six hundred and twenty three articles were initially retrieved from all ten databases. Two independent reviewers screened the titles and abstracts for relevance. One hundred and eighteen articles were read in full, out of which 11 were excluded because they did not fit the eligibility criteria. One hundred and ten articles, including two student theses and one report, were included in the final review. Most studies were descriptive in nature, with only three that used a case-control design. Majority of the studies were from urban areas, and addressed determinants rather than risk factors. Gender differences and age were predominantly reported, with more males committing suicide. Suicidal behavior was more common among individuals younger than 30 years of age. The three most common methods for suicides were hanging, poisoning and use of firearms. Mental illness as a risk factor for suicides was mentioned in only three studies.

CONCLUSIONS

This review is the first attempt to synthesize available literature on suicidal behavior in Pakistan. The evidence is limited, and calls for more robust analytical research designs, along with a focus on risk factors.

The Biopsychosocial Sphere of Women Victims of Violence: A Systematic Review

Objetivo: Identificar la contribución de la investigación desarrollada a una esfera biopsicosocial de mujeres víctimas de violencia y el significado atribuido a estas experiencias en sus vidas. Método: Revisión integradora realizada en los bases de datos MEDLINE / PubMed y LILACS, que cubre los años de 2009 a 2015. Resultados: Se seleccionaron y analizaron 18 estudios, con los criterios de selección siendo las razones dadas por las mujeres para permanecer con un compañero violento, las razones para no buscar ayuda para romper el ciclo de violencia o el significado atribuido a esta experiencia en sus vidas, incluyendo el significado religioso, ético y moral, así como el sufrimiento derivado de la experiencia. Discusión: Las intervenciones llevadas a cabo en las instituciones de salud permiten el desarrollo de estratificaciones para hacer frente a este problema. Una denuncia presentada por una esposa contra su atacante demuestra una ruptura temprana en el ciclo de violencia. Conclusión: Los resultados evidencian aspectos que pueden ayudar a mejorar la calidad de la salud de estas mujeres y muestran la importancia de la investigación para apoyar las prácticas en el cuidado de las mujeres víctimas de la violencia.

Violência de gênero: comparação da mortalidade por agressão em mulheres com e sem notificação prévia de violência

Resumo A violência contra a mulher constitui um importante problema de saúde pública no Brasil e no mundo. O objetivo do presente estudo foi descrever o perfil de mortalidade por agressão em mulheres e analisar se as vítimas de violência notificadas apresentam taxas de mortalidade por esse motivo mais elevadas do que a população feminina geral. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo da mortalidade por agressão em mulheres, a partir do linkage de bancos de dados. Os dados utilizados para o linkage foram todas as notificações de violência contra mulheres registradas no SINAN (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação) no período de 2011 a 2015 e os óbitos de mulheres por agressão registrados no SIM (Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade), no período de 2011 a 2016. O risco de morte por agressão nas mulheres notificadas por violência foi maior do que na população feminina geral, revelando assim uma situação de vulnerabilidade. Mulheres negras, de menor escolaridade foram as principais vítimas de violência e homicídios. O elevado número de mulheres mortas por agressão e a violência de repetição revelaram a fragilidade das redes de atenção e proteção no atendimento integral, qualificado e oportuno às vítimas.

Women's Perceptions and Experiences of Domestic Violence: An Observational Study From Hyderabad, Pakistan

This community-based observational study of 1,325 women seen for antenatal care examined how women in Pakistan define violence against women (VAW), with an emphasis on domestic violence, what an acceptable response to violence is, reasons for remaining silent, and whether participants are willing to disclose incidents of domestic violence to others. Nearly half of the study participants believed that physical violence was VAW. Verbal abuse, controlling behavior by the husband, conflict with in-laws, overburdening domestic work, and threatening to leave or remarry were also considered VAW. However, only five respondents (0.4%) considered sexual abuse to be VAW. Most women who screened positive for domestic violence responded by remaining silent or verbal fighting back. None sought professional help. Women who decided to remain silent feared that the abuse would escalate or that responding would not help them. Women cited social stigma and concerns about the impact of the violence on children as reasons for not disclosing violent incidents to others or seeking professional help. Women's lack of autonomy further reduced their ability to take steps against violence. Although societal norms, particularly patriarchal beliefs and women's subordination to men, likely explain women's tolerance of abuse, their recognition of physical abuse as violence indicates that they do not necessarily believe it is always justified. Educational interventions to drive changes in the social norms around gender violence along with effective and enforceable legal measures are likely required to ensure women's safety.

Gender Inequality Prevents Abused Women from Seeking Care Despite Protection Given in Gender-Based Violence Legislation: A Qualitative Study from Rwanda

Objective

Despite its burden on a person’s life, Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is known to be poorly recognised and managed in most countries and communities. This study aimed to explore health care professionals’ experiences of the health care seeking processes of women exposed to intimate partner violence in Rwanda.

Methods

Six focus group discussions were conducted in three district hospitals and three mental health units in Rwanda. A sample of 43 health care professionals with various professions and length of work experience, who regularly took care of patients subjected to IPV, was selected for focus group discussions. The analysis was performed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The theme “Gendered norms and values defeat the violence legislation in women’s health care seeking when women are abused” expressed the health care professionals’ experiences of the double-faced situation which women exposed to IPV met in their help seeking process. Positive initiatives to protect women were identified, but the potential for abused women to seek help and support was reduced because of poverty, gender inequality with prevailing strong norms of male superiority, and the tendency to keep abuse as a private family matter.

Conclusion

Legislative measures have been instituted to protect women from abuse. Still many Rwandan women do not benefit from these efforts. The role of the health care services needs to be reinforced as an important and available resource for help and support for abused women but further legislative changes are also needed. Initiatives to further improve gender equality, and institutionalised collaboration between different sectors in society would contribute to protecting women from IPV.