Bridging Prevention and Health: Exploring Community Perceptions of Intimate Partner Violence in Rural Honduras

• NCJ Number: 240488
• Journal: Journal of Family Violence Volume: 27 Issue: 7 Dated: October 2012 Pages: 707-714
• Author(s): Javeed Sukhera; Catherine Cerulli; Barbara A. Gawinski; Diane Morse
• Date Published: October 2012
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined how a rural Honduran community defines and responds to intimate partner violence (IPV).

Abstract

This qualitative study rooted in community-based participatory research principles utilized semi-structured interviews with two focus groups (n=9) with female healthcare volunteers (FCVs) and three male key informants who were community leaders (MCLs). The study aimed to examine how a rural Honduran community defines and responds to intimate partner violence (IPV) in order to lay the foundation for future interventions. Based on grounded theory, the authors assessed for common themes across transcripts. Authors found that a number of participants denied the existence of IPV. Perspectives on the causes and definitions of IPV varied between FCVs and MCLs. All participants affirmed the need for intervention and many participants mentioned healthcare and legal systems as potential venues to ameliorate IPV. The results highlight potentially important differences between FCV and MCL perspectives that may inform future interventions. Findings suggest healthcare workers can play a role in IPV prevention and intervention in rural Honduras. Abstract published by arrangement with Springer.