Women's help seeking for intimate partner violence in Jordan

Health Care Women Int. 2014;35(4):380-99. doi: 10.1080/07399332.2013.815755. Epub 2013 Sep 2.

Abstract

Little is known about Jordanian women's help seeking for intimate partner violence (IPV), despite local and international investment in victim services. Using a clinic based survey (n = 517; response rate 70%) and focus group discussions (FGDs, n = 17) we explored Jordanian women's nonfamily help seeking for physical or sexual IPV. We evaluated survey data using bivariate and multivariate regression and examined FGD transcripts using open coding methodology. Nonfamily help seeking was uncommon, an option only in serious circumstances after familial help was ineffective, and correlated with violence severity and relative violence. Nonfamily resources are underutilized but critical for vulnerable Jordanian women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations*
  • Jordan
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sexual Partners*
  • Social Support
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spouse Abuse / psychology*
  • Spouse Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Women's Health
  • Young Adult