Gender-based violence and social determinants in undocumented pregnant Venezuelans living in Barranquilla, Colombia: a qualitative approach

Abstract

Background gender-based violence is considered a phenomenon of importance in the field of public health and social sciences. From a social determinants’ perspective, it seems important to study this topic in social groups considered as vulnerable, in order to establish prevention strategies. This study aims to explore the experiences of gender-based violence and its social determinants in a group of undocumented pregnant women in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia.Methods qualitative study based on 15 semi-structured interviews with undocumented pregnant Venezuelans residing in the district of Barranquilla. The interview guide included various dimensions in order to discover the opinions and experiences of each participant related to their migration process, their health during pregnancy, experiences of gender-based violence, individual and institutional responses to violence and, lastly, the health care they have received in Colombia. Narrative contents analysis was carried out by means of emergent categories from the perspective of the interviewed women. Ethical considerations for gender-based violence studies were taking into consideration.Results interviewed women migrated from Venezuela to Barranquilla in Colombia motivated to improve their quality of life and for their families. In the adaptation process, some women reported having been victims of physical, psychological, sexual and economic violence, which can be associated with their vulnerability conditions related to their pregnancy and motherhood, economic dependency, lack of networks of support and insecurity of the sectors in which they resided. This situation affected their physical, mental and psychosocial health.Conclusion immigrant pregnant women in Barranquilla are in an especial situation of social vulnerability considering their experiences about gender-based violence, and its social determinants related to the migratory process and their adaptations to the Colombian territory.

Gender-Based Violence, Subjective Quality of Life, and Mental Health Outcomes Among Palestinian Women: The Mediating Role of Social Support and Agency

“…Finally, women living in Colombian slums are reported to be physically, psychologically, sexually, and economically victimized because of disrupted living conditions after migration. Their vulnerability was related to pregnancy and motherhood, economic dependency, lack of support networks, and insecurity in the sectors in which they resided, resulting in impaired mental health and psychological functioning (Isaza-Arias et al, 2020).…”