A research report submitted to the Family Medicine Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Family Medicine / Background: Intimate partner violence is problem world-wide and has been attributed to many factors. South Africa has one of the highest IPV statistics in the world and therefore poses a definite need to address it. For abused women the process of leaving an intimate partner is difficult and mired in an abundance of complex and entwined factors which influence the decision to leave or stay in an abusive relationship. This qualitative study explored women’s experiences of leaving abusive relationships and the critical factors that pushed them to leave their abusive relationships. Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted with eleven women (over 18 years) who had experienced partner abuse and were current residents of Ikaya Le Themba Women’s Shelter in Johannesburg. All interviews were audio-taped with consent, and translated where necessary and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis, which entails an analysis of emerging themes from the interviews, was conducted in order to understand factors that led to abused leaving abusive relationships. Results: Two themes were identified as instrumental to freeing women from abuse. These were reaching a turning point and leaving the abusive relationship. The important turning points were progression of violence, realization that the partner will not change, effect of abuse on children and women’s feelings due to abuse. Leaving the abusive, relationship was facilitated by social and family support, access to shelters and availability of an opportunity to leave. Conclusions: Findings suggest that increasing awareness about existence of shelters is crucial to facilitate early departure. Social and family support was fundamental in facilitating leaving abusive relationships.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-90).

Recent interest in the area of spouse abuse has resulted in many attempts to define and understand this problem. The present study reviewed the literature addressing spouse abuse, its various definitions and presumed causes. Theories regarding the cause of spouse abuse were presented in two groups: those focussing on society as the perceived cause of abuse and those on either men or women as precipitators of abuse. The purpose of the study was threefold. The first was to explore the relationship between gender and perception of spouse abuse. The second was to examine whether attitudes toward women varied as a function of perception of spouse abuse. Third, the study explored the relationship between situational variables and perceptions of spouse abuse. Finally, although not an initial purpose of the study, differences in perceptions of spouse abuse were compared among abused and nonabused groups.

Dissertation (Ph.D.).--University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Nursing. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 61-71). Also available online.

<p>The aim of this literature study was to describe nurses' attitudes toward female patients who have been victims of spouse abuse. In this descriptive literature study, fifteen scientific articles were used in the result. The articles were of both qualitative and quantitative nature. The nurses felt that domestic violence was a social problem and that they had an important role in the detection of such violence. Several had themselves experienced violence but couldn‟t believe that so many in their vicinity or in the care were affected. Nurses thought that abused women had low self esteem and factors such as economics and children played into why the woman stayed in the violent relationship. The nurses often had a lack of education about the subject and felt uncomfortable in the situation that routinely screening all female patients for domestic violence. Education increased awareness and nurses felt more confident to talk about domestic violence with their female patients. The study found barriers to routine screening, as time constraints and lack of opportunity to talk separately with the patient. More education and knowledge of the subject is desirable so these women can be discovered and be helped by the health services.</p>

The aim of this literature study was to describe nurses' attitudes toward female patients who have been victims of spouse abuse. In this descriptive literature study, fifteen scientific articles were used in the result. The articles were of both qualitative and quantitative nature. The nurses felt that domestic violence was a social problem and that they had an important role in the detection of such violence. Several had themselves experienced violence but couldn‟t believe that so many in their vicinity or in the care were affected. Nurses thought that abused women had low self esteem and factors such as economics and children played into why the woman stayed in the violent relationship. The nurses often had a lack of education about the subject and felt uncomfortable in the situation that routinely screening all female patients for domestic violence. Education increased awareness and nurses felt more confident to talk about domestic violence with their female patients. The study found barriers to routine screening, as time constraints and lack of opportunity to talk separately with the patient. More education and knowledge of the subject is desirable so these women can be discovered and be helped by the health services.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-49).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 206-213).

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A violÃncia contra a mulher constitui um agravo recorrente no cenÃrio mundial tendo sido considerado problema relevante para a saÃde pÃblica e violaÃÃo dos direitos humanos. Teve-se como objetivo analisar a magnitude da violÃncia contra a mulher perpetrada por parceiro Ãntimo. Estudo quantitativo transversal, cuja coleta de dados foi realizada de junho a agosto de 2011, tomando-se por base dados de inquÃritos policiais que constam na Delegacia Especializada de Atendimento à Mulher de Fortaleza-CE. Selecionaram-se inquÃritos de mulheres na faixa etÃria de 20 a 59 anos, baseados em um processo de amostragem do qual resultaram em 395 inquÃritos policiais. Destes, 325 foram de mulheres que deram prosseguimento ao processo judicial e 70 desistiram da denÃncia do agressor. Para a coleta de dados, foram extraÃdas variÃveis relevantes dos inquÃritos que seguiram com processo, com vistas a contribuir na busca da possÃvel associaÃÃo entre a violÃncia fÃsica contra a mulher e os possÃveis fatores causais, tais como os socioeconÃmicos, tanto da vÃtima quanto do agressor, alÃm dos dados da ocorrÃncia. Enquanto os 70 processos arquivados foram apenas descritos, os que deram prosseguimento ao juizado tiveram seus dados analisados por meio do software STATA versÃo 10. A tipologia da violÃncia prevalente no estudo foi a nÃo fÃsica (57,2%). Entretanto, foi analisada a associaÃÃo, especificamente, entre a violÃncia fÃsica e seus possÃveis fatores. Para este fim, utilizou-se o cÃlculo da RazÃo de PrevalÃncia, Odds Ratio bruta e valores de significÃncia (p<0,20). Ao aplicar a regressÃo logÃstica para ajuste do modelo, concluiu-se que os fatores de risco associados para este tipo de agressÃo foram o nÃmero de filhos e o vÃnculo nÃo civilmente formal entre a vÃtima e o agressor (p=0,050; p=0,001, respectivamente; o ambiente do ocorrido ser o nÃo residencial (p=0,037); o autor ser solteiro (p=0,017); os possÃveis motivos segundo a vÃtima serem o consumo de Ãlcool ou drogas ou ambos em associaÃÃo, ciÃme ou nÃo aceitaÃÃo da separaÃÃo, alÃm do histÃrico de agressividade do autor (p=0,002); os possÃveis motivos segundo o agressor tais como o consumo de Ãlcool e drogas por ele, ciÃme, nÃo conformaÃÃo com a separaÃÃo, a alegaÃÃo de infidelidade por parte da mulher assim como a culpabilidade da vÃtima (p=0,000). Destacou-se o registro de BO anterior como fator de proteÃÃo à integridade fÃsica da mulher (p=0,050). Mesmo sem dimensionar a procura da mulher vÃtima de lesÃo corporal por um serviÃo de saÃde, à evidente o nÃmero de casos nÃo notificados pelo sistema e a vÃtima acaba por se tornar, mais uma vez, negligenciada. Ademais, a violÃncia nÃo fÃsica tambÃm deixa sequelas inimaginÃveis no histÃrico de vida de uma mulher. Contudo, urge a integraÃÃo dos serviÃos com vistas a combatÃ-la.