The prevalence and factors associated with ever perpetrating intimate partner violence by men receiving substance use treatment in Brazil and England: A cross‐cultural comparison

Abstract

Introduction and Aims. Intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration is common among men who use substances. Substance use is a contributing factor for IPV perpetration. This cross-sectional study determined lifetime prevalence and factors associated with ever perpetrating IPV by men receiving substance use treatment in Brazil (n = 281) and England (n = 223). Design and Methods. IPV, adverse childhood experiences, attitudes towards gender relations and roles, current health state, substance use, depressive symptoms and anger expression were assessed. Logistic regression determined factors associated with ever perpetrating any (emotional, physical and/or sexual) IPV. Multinomial logistic regression determined factors associated with ever perpetrating different types of IPV. Results. 74.6% (373/500) reported ever perpetrating IPV: 16.5% (82/498) emotional IPV only, 46.4% (231/498) physical IPV (with/without emotional IPV) and 11.6% (58/498) sexual IPV (with/without emotional and/or physical IPV). Higher anger expression, higher depressive symptoms, fighting physically with another man in the past year (Brazil only), experiencing a greater number of adverse childhood experiences and a higher hazardous drinking score (England only) predicted ever perpetrating IPV. Compared to never perpetrating any IPV, anger expression was associated with emotional and physical IPV perpetration; fighting physically with another man in the past year was associated with physical IPV perpetration and experiencing a greater number of adverse childhood experiences and a higher hazardous drinking score were associated with both physical and sexual IPV perpetration. Discussion and Conclusions. Integrated interventions that address IPV and substance use delivered in substance use treatment could improve outcomes for perpetrators and victims.[Gilchrist G, Radcliffe P, Noto AR, d'Oliveira AFPL. The prevalence and factors associated with ever perpetrating intimate partner violence by men receiving substance use treatment in Brazil and England: A cross-cultural comparison. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:34-51]

Controlling behaviours and technology‐facilitated abuse perpetrated by men receiving substance use treatment in England and Brazil: Prevalence and risk factors

“…In both England and Brazil, participants in our study who were more supportive of gender equitable norms were less likely to report controlling behaviour. It is interesting that in spite of the higher support for gender equitable relations and less gender stereotyped attitudes in England compared to Brazil , the prevalence of perpetrating controlling behaviour was similar. While Stark's suggestion that physical IPV may be used to maintain ‘coercive control’ is partially supported in the Brazil data, the data from England suggests that more subtle forms of IPV, including TFA, may also be used to enforce control in a cultural context where male domination and IPV are less socially accepted.…”

Strategies to facilitate integrated care for people with alcohol and other drug problems: a systematic review

“…These can include mental health, medical, housing, unemployment, education and training needs, as well as issues with criminal justice and social services [2–4] and potentially intimate partner violence [5]. Unmet psychosocial needs can result in treatment drop out, highlighting the need for a holistic approach to treatment [6].…”

Tailored integrated interventions for intimate partner violence and substance use are urgently needed

“…Two studies in this special issue show how mixed methods studies across different countries can help disentangle the nuances of the phenomenon of IPV. While the quantitative data from studies by Gilchrist et al and Watt et al . suggested gender symmetry in the rates of IPV victimisation and perpetration experienced, their qualitative data provide a more nuanced contextual understanding, with instances of victimisation of women by male partners characterised as particularly frequent and intense.…”

“…While IPV is prevalent in all cultures and countries [1], cultures where norms that justify wife beating and male control of female behaviour are widely held report higher rates of IPV [16]. In this issue, Gilchrist et al [17] compared the prevalence and risk factors for IPV perpetration among men in treatment for substance use in England and Brazil. They found that despite more genderstereotyped attitudes towards women and gender roles in Brazil, similar rates of emotional IPV were reported across the two countries, higher rates of sexual IPV perpetration were reported in Brazil and higher rates of physical IPV perpetration were reported in England.…”