Why abused women do not seek professional help: a qualitative study

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of caring sciences Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 3 - 11
• Main Authors: Prosman, Gert-Jan, Lo Fo Wong, Sylvie H., Lagro-Janssen, Antoine L.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sweden Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2014
• Subjects: Adult; children; Domestic Violence; family practice; Female; help seeking; Humans; intimate partner violence; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Nursing; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; qualitative method; Qualitative Research; Sexual Partners; woman; Young Adult; Netherlands; intimate partner violence; family practice; woman; help seeking; qualitative method; children
• ISSN: 0283-9318; 1471-6712
• DOI: 10.1111/scs.12025

Objective We aimed to gain insight into the process of help seeking of abused women visiting their family physician (FP). Setting Family practice in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Method We used a qualitative method with interviews in a sample of 14 abused women, identified in an earlier cross‐sectional survey with the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). This qualitative method with semi‐structured interviews was used to obtain information on the process of seeking help. Results Unawareness of the impact of abuse on themselves and their children, unfamiliarity and negative experiences with professionals and fear for their partner hampers abused women to seek professional help. Our study reveals that abused women need informal support by family and friends to ask for professional support. Current health care does not fit into the needs of abused women during the abuse they want more practical support, after the abuse they need also psychological help. In our study, FPs and mothers pay less attention to the impact of witnessing violence on children. Conclusion When women are unaware of the negative consequences of IPV, the physical and mental well‐being of themselves and their children they do not ask for professional support. Abused women view informal support is important in the changing process. FPs should be trained to pay more attention to informal support and be alert to children's well‐being.