NCJ Number
209007
Journal
Violence Against Women Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2005 Pages: 337-352
Date Published
March 2005
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This survey of 100 recent Latino immigrants in a rural North Carolina county addressed their perceptions of problems in their community; assessed their knowledge and attitudes about intimate partner violence (IPV), laws pertaining to IPV, and available resources; and solicited baseline information for a subsequent program evaluation.
Abstract
Interviews were conducted in Spanish in late fall 1999. The 100 respondents were evenly divided between men and women; and they ranged in age from 19 to 60 years, with a median age of 31.3 for women and 31.5 for men. When asked to list the three most significant problems facing the Latino community, alcohol and substance abuse as well as housing problems were mentioned most often, followed by racism and discrimination. Violence, including IPV, was rarely included in the top three most serious problems, ranking sixth among male respondents and fourth among female respondents. Overall, IPV was viewed as a moderately serious problem in the Latino community, with women perceiving it as a much more serious issue than the men. Men and women both strongly agreed that children who are exposed to IPV might experience problems later in life. They also agreed, although not as strongly, that it is wrong for a man to hit his wife or partner, even if he is angry. Men were more likely than women to agree that it is wrong for a woman to hit her partner, even if she is angry. Men and women were similar in their knowledge about domestic-violence laws and resources in the community, as almost all of the respondents knew that physical violence and threats against spouses or partners violate the law; and most indicated they knew a place where victims could go for help. Many respondents, however, were unaware of the existence of the local domestic violence agency. 2 tables and 23 references