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Abstract
Background
Domestic violence (DV) is a major global public health problem which is associated with significant adverse consequences. Although Sri Lankan women who experience DV receive treatment from healthcare professionals (HCPs) for DV related physical and psychological problems, disclosure of DV within health services is quite low. This study explored barriers to disclosure of DV to HCPs among Sri Lankan women who experience DV.
Method
This qualitative study took place in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Twenty women who had experienced DV were recruited from Gender Based Violence Centers (Mithuru Piyasa Centers) and a toxicology unit of the two selected hospitals. Participants were purposefully selected using maximum variation sampling technique. In-depth interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. Interviews were recorded, and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
Survivor related barriers to help seeking included women’s lack of knowledge and perceptions about the role of HCPs, lack of confidence in HCPs, fear of repercussions, personal attitudes towards DV, and their love and loyalty towards the perpetrator. Women preferred it if HCPs initiated discussions about DV, and they valued it when HCPs could be confidential and protect their privacy, and give enough time for DV related issues during consultations. A perpetrator related barrier was the controlling behavior of the perpetrator. Social stigma and social and cultural norms about the role of women emerged as the socio-cultural constraints to disclosure.
Conclusions
Barriers to help seeking for DV from HCPs exist at individual, healthcare level, and societal level. Community programs are needed to increase women’s access to healthcare services and interventions should be implemented to develop effective, preventive, and supportive strategies at the healthcare system level.
Domestic violence (DV) is a major global public health problem which is associated with significant adverse consequences. Although Sri Lankan women who experience DV receive treatment from healthcare professionals (HCPs) for DV related physical and psychological problems, disclosure of DV within health services is quite low. This study explored barriers to disclosure of DV to HCPs among Sri Lankan women who experience DV.
Method
This qualitative study took place in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Twenty women who had experienced DV were recruited from Gender Based Violence Centers (Mithuru Piyasa Centers) and a toxicology unit of the two selected hospitals. Participants were purposefully selected using maximum variation sampling technique. In-depth interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached. Interviews were recorded, and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results
Survivor related barriers to help seeking included women’s lack of knowledge and perceptions about the role of HCPs, lack of confidence in HCPs, fear of repercussions, personal attitudes towards DV, and their love and loyalty towards the perpetrator. Women preferred it if HCPs initiated discussions about DV, and they valued it when HCPs could be confidential and protect their privacy, and give enough time for DV related issues during consultations. A perpetrator related barrier was the controlling behavior of the perpetrator. Social stigma and social and cultural norms about the role of women emerged as the socio-cultural constraints to disclosure.
Conclusions
Barriers to help seeking for DV from HCPs exist at individual, healthcare level, and societal level. Community programs are needed to increase women’s access to healthcare services and interventions should be implemented to develop effective, preventive, and supportive strategies at the healthcare system level.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 721 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-11 |
| Journal | BMC Public Health |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 11 Apr 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This research was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) (GHR Project: 17/63/125) using UK aid from the UK Government to support global health research. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK government. Furthermore, the principal investigator was based at South Asian Clinical Research Collaboration (SACTRC), faculty of Medicine, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka and had access to resources and support from there. DK is funded by Wellcome Trust and Elizabeth Blackwell Institute Bristol.
Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank the health staff at Mithuru Piyasa centres of teaching hospital Kandy and base hospital Gampola and staff at the toxicology unit, teaching hospital Peradeniya for their help with recruiting women and providing their premises to conduct the interviews. The authors would like to thank the research assistant, Azra Aroos for her contribution with screening women. In addition, authors would like to thank the staff at SACTRC, Faculty of medicine, University of Peradeniya for their immense support with providing practical support and resources to conduct this study. We would also like to thank women for giving their time to participate in this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
Research Groups and Themes
- SASH
Keywords
- Domestic violence
- healthcare professionals
- Health services
- Barriers to help seeking
- Qualitative study
- Sri Lankan women
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This is the final published version of the article (version of record). It first appeared online via BMC at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13116-w. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
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