The main aim of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of wife abuse in Libya and to identify its mental health impacts on abused women accessing mental health services. Seven topics were explored: the main forms of violence perpetrated against wives; women's help-seeking behaviour; the impact of violence on women's mental health; negative feelings and low functioning in abused women; women's vulnerability to further abuse; women's use of mental health services, and the views of mental health professionals on wife abuse. A qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews was conducted with 40 female participants accessing mental health services. A further five interviews were undertaken with mental health professionals. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data and explore the issues mentioned above. The study adopted an integrated theoretical framework, drawing on feminist perspectives and the social model of mental health, to interpret the causes of wife abuse and understand its mental health impacts. It was found that wife abuse exists in Libya and can include physical, sexual, emotional, and economic abuse, as well as neglect. Exposure to marital violence has a detrimental impact on women's mental health, including negative feelings, low functioning, and becoming more vulnerable to further abuse. Although most participants sought and received mental health services, the majority were left unsatisfied. Clinicians recognise the prevalence and detrimental effects of wife abuse m Libya but some expressed reluctance to intervene due to perceptions about family life. Reasons for not routinely asking women about abuse included lack of education in or experience of screening, limited time, and the fear of endangering patients through possible reprisals. Wife abuse in Libya remains a concern, as it is not addressed as a serious public health issue. Protection from abuse, legal advice, healthcare and social services remain inadequate. The victims of wife abuse who took part in this study hope to receive protection from abuse, as well as adequate legal advice, healthcare, social services and financial assistance by the state to improve their quality of their life and, in turn, their mental health.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:633154 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Zummit, Najat |
| Publisher | University of Bristol |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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