Listening to Bedouin Women Who Were Affected by Intimate Partner Violence and Sought Help From a Doctor

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how Bedouin women perceived and interpreted seeing a doctor for help in the aftermath of intimate partner violence. In the phenomenological study, 38 semi-structured interviews were conducted at two different points in time. The first interview took place before the first appointment with the doctor, and the second took place about 3 months after seeing the doctor. The findings revealed two main themes: an act of resistance against the prevailing social norms and empowerment out of crisis. The study found that doctors and other professionals working in the field of domestic violence in community clinics provide a reliable first source of support for women within a limiting social space. This brings into focus the centrality of the role of the doctor/health care professionals within the framework of the community clinic and is intended to direct, train, and deepen the insights of the medical staff that work with women affected by intimate partner violence and to create uniformity in the interventions for these women.

Women’s experiences and expectations of intimate partner abuse identification in healthcare settings: a qualitative evidence synthesis

“…Thirty-one of the included studies supported the idea that HCPs need to create a safe and supportive environment to facilitate women’s disclosure 5 32 34–52 54–60 62–67. For many participants, deciding to share their experiences of IPA was a difficult process entangled in a range of fears 5 34 35 37 39 41–43 45–50 52 54–59 62–64 66 67.…”

“…Thirty-one of the included studies supported the idea that HCPs need to create a safe and supportive environment to facilitate women’s disclosure 5 32 34–52 54–60 62–67. For many participants, deciding to share their experiences of IPA was a difficult process entangled in a range of fears 5 34 35 37 39 41–43 45–50 52 54–59 62–64 66 67. These fears encompassed two main dimensions: safety for themselves and their children from the perpetrator and concerns relating to the patient–provider interaction.…”

“…Women were concerned about having their children removed, partners incarcerated and suffering financial consequences as a result of making a disclosure 5 35 39 42 45 46 48–50 56 62–64…”

“…Considering the many fears implicated in women’s disclosure of IPA, it was viewed as essential that HCPs demonstrate care in their interactions with patients 5 32 34 36–51 56 59 60 62–66…”

“…The 34 included studies represented 17 countries: 13 were conducted in the USA, [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45] 4 in Australia, [46][47][48][49][50][51] 3 in the UK 5 52 53 and 1 each in Ecuador, 54 India, 55 Israel, 56 Japan, 57 Kyrgyzstan, 58 Mexico, 59 New Zealand, 60 Nigeria, 61 Norway, 62 Palestine, 63 South Africa, 64 Spain, 65 Sweden 66 and Taiwan. 67 The 37 papers resulting from these studies were published in 2016 (n=7), 2017 (n=10), 2018 (n=4), 2019 (n=9), 2020 (n=6) and 2021 (n=1), and included a total of 1016 participants.…”