What do women experiencing domestic violence expect from healthcare professionals? A qualitative study in Sri Lanka

Objectives: For healthcare professionals (HCPs) to provide optimal support for women experiencing domestic violence (DV), it is important to understand what type of support women expect from HCPs. The objective of this study was to explore what kind of support women who experienced DV in Sri Lanka expect from HCPs. Design: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Setting: This study was conducted in two gender-based violence centres (Mithuru Piyasa centres) and a toxicology unit, situated in hospitals in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Participants: Twenty women who had experienced DV and presented to health services were purposefully recruited using the maximum variation sampling technique, ensuring diversity of age and socio-economic variables. In-depth interviews were conducted with women who consented. Results: Women who have experienced DV expect varying assistance from HCPs, including changing their abusive partner’s behaviour, resolving their issues or restoring family and marital harmony. Women expect HCPs to intervene in different ways, such as by conversing with both parties or offering support to help the abusive partner overcome alcohol or drug addiction. Women also recommend community-based programmes that concentrate on enhancing marital and family cohesion. Financial and instrumental social support also emerged as key expectations. They anticipate emotional support from HCPs, whom they expect to maintain confidentiality, exhibit empathy, listen attentively and give more importance to DV disclosures. A few women requested referrals to other support services. Conclusions: A multisectoral approach including a proper referral system and social support between health and other social services is a timely recommendation, given the women’s requests for financial and instrumental social support, which go beyond the health sector. The women’s requests for HCPs to talk with both women and their partners to resolve their issues is a more complex and new finding, which warrants further exploration.