The role of gender, sexuality and context upon help-seeking for intimate partner violence: A synthesis of data across five studies

Programmes of research which combine related studies are commonplace, including in the field of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Whereas the systematic synthesis of published qualitative data is now well established, the synthesis of qualitative data that make up a programme of work is rare. A Programme of Research on Violence in Diverse Domestic Environments (PROVIDE) is a UK NIHR funded programme. The five studies associated with PROVIDE are sited in general practice, sexual health clinics, mental health services and 3rd sector IPV agencies. Synthesising the data from across the studies offered an opportunity to highlight variations in help-seeking strategies according to gender and sexual orientation and identify variations in help-seeking across different contexts. The approach to the synthesis was meta-ethnography. The synthesis identified 23 2nd order constructs in relation to helpseeking. Findings show gender and sexuality influences how help-seeking in different contexts is viewed. Disclosure of IPV to mental health services was rare. Women favour help-seeking from primary care which is familiar and where they are known, whilst gay men favour help-seeking from GUM clinics where there is a taken for granted acknowledgement of sexual identity. These differences suggest an intersectional approach to providing support services for IPV is needed.