Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is recognized globally as a major public health concern linked to numerous adverse physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health outcomes. IPV is associated with both pregnancy and HIV-infection independently, but there are few data on IPV in populations of HIV-infected pregnant women. We examined the prevalence and predicators of IPV among pregnant women initiating lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a large primary care clinic in Cape Town, South Africa. Methods: Consecutive pregnant women seeking antenatal care in Gugulethu, Cape Town were recruited into the MCH-ART study examining service models for postpartum ART care. IPV, depression, alcohol and drug use, and emotional distress were assessed using the 13-item WHO Violence Against Women questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), alcohol and drug use disorders identification test (AUDIT/DUDIT) and the Kessler-10 (K-10) scale, respectively. Questionnaires were administered privately by trained interviewers. Women identified with specific IPV or mental health concerns were referred to appropriate services. Logistic regression was used to examine factors independently associated with experiences of IPV after adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. Results: From April 2013-May 2014, 623 women were enrolled (median age, 28 years):97% reported being in a relationship, 38% were married and/or cohabiting and 70% reported not having discussed or agreed on pregnancy intentions prior to conception . Overall, 21%(n=132) reported experiencing ≥ 1 act of IPV in the past 12 months, including emotional violence(15%), physical violence(15%) and sexual violence(2%). Of those reporting any IPV, 48% reported experiencing multiple types. Emotional and physical violence were most prevalent among women 18-24 years old, while sexual violence was most commonly reported among women 25-29 years old. Women who reported not discussing or disagreeing on pregnancy intentions with their partners prior to conception were significantly more likely to experience violence(p=0.030), and women who experienced IPV reported higher levels of substance abuse, depression and emotional distress(p<0.001 for all associations). Discussion: These data demonstrate high levels of IPV in this population. While the potential impact of HIV-infection, pregnancy and pregnancy intention on the risk of IPV and related factors require further research, IPV-related screening and support services should be considered as part of the package of care for ART in pregnancy.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a problem that is present and pervasive globally and in South Africa. In the South African context, IPV exists within a larger context of high levels of interpersonal violence and violence against women. Understanding the context in which IPV occurs from the perspective of survivors is important for informing effective intervention and prevention programs to counteract its effects. This study explores the life histories of South African women who have experienced IPV. Framed through the lens of intersectionality, it gauges the broader context within which IPV emerges and is sustained, and explores how experiences of IPV are shaped at the intersection of women’s identity markers of race, class and gender. This study is one of a few studies that have used life history methods with women to explore their life contexts and experiences of IPV. Purposive sampling was used to recruit a sample of 11 women based in a Cape Town women’s shelter for abused women and children. Two semi-structured qualitative life history interviews were conducted with each participant. The interviews were transcribed and analysed through thematic narrative analysis, where four noteworthy narrative themes emerged, namely An unsteady and violent beginning, No place called home: A search for belonging and survival, IPV: The unanticipated cost of love and belonging, and Normalisation of IPV experiences: The effects of withdrawal from support. The findings and their relation to existing literature as well as recommendations for future IPV research are discussed. One of the key findings of the study was that the childhood context of the participants was the first point of identifying intersectional oppression and marginalisation that may have shaped a vulnerability to the women’s later experiences of IPV. Another key finding was recognising the value that women place on love and belonging in the context of a difficult, violent and low socioeconomic childhood background, and how this could have an impact on the vulnerability of women to IPV. The use of a life history approach framed by intersectionality thus demonstrated significant benefits in tracking the contextual experiences of women who have experienced IPV. These benefits are of significance because they made it possible to identify points of intervention and prevention of IPV amongst marginalised South African women.

In families where parents present with intimate partner violence dynamics, courts routinely impose restraints restricting communications between those parents. However, the same courts also routinely fashion arrangements whereby those same parents share custody of their children. Children in families with this dynamic are often used as communication facilitators and triangulated by parental conflict. This grounded theory study generated a theory about parenting coordination work with high conflict couples with intimate partner violence dynamics. This theory may have utility for parenting coordinators working more effectively with the described population. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 professional parenting coordinators who have worked with high conflict parents with intimate partner violence. The qualitative data collected were analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding procedures with the additional use of research/mentor triangulation and researcher journaling. Results of this study yielded adaptive parenting coordination for intimate partner violence theory (APCIPV). This theory incorporates findings that specific modifications to the parenting coordination process, along with a concentrated effort to implement structured communication techniques and focused monitoring of exchanges between the parties can lead to coparenting despite the intimate partner violence dynamic. Further, it was revealed that high conflict parents, in general, often present with and report many of the same problematic behaviors even without a formal adjudication of domestic violence. Findings from this study can serve as an evidence basis for promoting the use of parenting coordinators as communication facilitators between high conflict parents with intimate partner violence to remove children from familial triangulation.

In relationships between men and women, women are still more likely than men to take family leave and reduce work hours after the birth of their first child. This results in economic changes between partners at the transition to parenthood. Gendered changes in income may impact relationship dynamics within couples and contribute to the elevated risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) seen at this time. Previous research has linked both relative and absolute income to IPV; however, it is unlikely that income directly impacts IPV. For this reason, the current study explored potential mediators of the relationship between income and IPV such as decision-making power (i.e., the ability to influence another person’s opinions and decisions) and quality of alternatives (i.e., the availability of options outside of the current relationship) by following 196 first time parents across four timepoints (the third trimester of pregnancy, one year, two years, and four years postpartum). Multilevel modelling was used to test whether decision-making power mediates the relationship between relative income and IPV and whether quality of alternatives mediates the relationship between absolute income and IPV. Despite low base rates of physical IPV, findings indicated that at times when the gender wage gap within couples was smaller, overall levels of physical violence within the relationship were reduced. However, at times when the gender wage gap was smaller women’s psychological IPV perpetration increased. There were mixed findings regarding decision-making power and quality of alternatives as mediators of the relationship between income and IPV. Implications for the current conceptualization of the link between income and power are discussed. / Graduate

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Domestic violence (DV) in India is one of the most alarming issues that is experienced by over one-third (36.6%) of non-Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (non SC/ST) women and nearly half (48%) of Scheduled Caste (SC) women (ages 15-49). DV and women’s empowerment are historically interlinked. The patriarchy embedded within social-cultural norms along with economic capability deprivation takes away the freedom of SC women to enjoy bodily safety in public and private spaces. Despite Constitutional measures, SC women continue to face violence-induced capability deprivation due to discrimination at three levels: caste, class, and gender. DV against SC women is an understudied area; there are scarcely any studies on DV in this population using national data. This research used data from the National Family Health Survey-III 2005-2006 (N = 12,069-SC women and N = 45,390- non-SC/ST women). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine DV trends amongst SC and non-SC/ST women. Contrary to the study’s hypothesis, having better empowerment (household-autonomy, healthcare decision-making, sexual-autonomy) increased the likelihood of women experiencing DV. However, the hypothesis relating to economic empowerment and autonomy was supported showing a reduced likelihood of DV. SC women were empowered when they had the capability to earn wages; however, they had no instrumental freedom to spend their own earnings. Similarly, empowerment indicators were shown to impact the likelihood of justifying the violence shaping women’s gender norms and attitudes. When compared with non-SC/ST, SC women who have economic and healthcare autonomy had lower odds of justifying DV. Exposure to DV in childhood, early marriage, and husbands’ alcohol abuse significantly enhanced the likelihood of DV. Across most of the indicators, the intensity of DV amongst SC women was relatively higher than non-SC/ST women. The findings emphasize the need for social work practice and policy to focus not only on empowering women in terms on economic and material well-being through ownership, but also assessing if this ownership have instrumental value in practice without the threat of DV. Future research can enhance understanding of DV by examining social exclusion, socio-cultural patriarchy, and the intersectionality of caste, class, gender, and other individualist and community factors. / 2 years

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Intimate partner violence is a problem in the United States (U.S.) military. Previous research has identified factors that increase a couple’s risk for engaging in violence. Most of these factors, such as age, alcohol, and relationship satisfaction are consistent across civilian and military samples. One factor that is unique to military samples is deployment; service members can be exposed to unique traumatic incidents while deployed which are generally unknown to most civilians. Deployments can also increase a service member’s risk for developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which can increase their risk for intimate partner violence. Previous research on the effect of deployments on intimate partner violence has produced mixed results. The purpose of this study was to analyze if deployment, total length of deployment, combat experiences from deployment, and PTSD symptoms increased risk for Air Force airmen to perpetrate intimate partner violence at a moderate or severe level of violence. Survey data from a representative sample of active duty Air Force airmen (N = 1,501) was used to conduct Chi-Square analyses and multinomial logistic regression models for perpetrated violence. Results of the study showed that deployment and combat experiences were not significant predictors of perpetrated violence. PTSD symptoms, in addition to alcohol misuse and relationship satisfaction, were significant predictors of moderate and severe perpetrated violence. In terms of practice and policy implications, the study results underscore the importance of widespread screening for these risk factors as well as the availability of interventions focused on alcohol use and relationship issues among service members. Future research could determine if PTSD symptoms moderate the relationship between combat experiences and intimate partner violence.

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The current study was based on Hester and Jacquin’s (2011) study of juror bias in a trial in which a woman killed her abusive husband. Specifically, this study examined the influence of the husband’s alcohol use, the wife’s alcohol use, the wife’s diagnosis, and evidence of domestic violence on mock jurors (N = 518). Results indicated that the wife’s alcohol use impacted her negatively at trial. When she was intoxicated, jurors perceived her to be more to blame for her actions and for the abuse she received from her husband. Gender differences were present among mock jurors; females gave lower guilt ratings than males, suggesting that females sympathized with the female defendant.