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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Mary A. Garza, PhD, MPH1, Andrea C. Gielen, ScD, ScM, CHES1, Jacquelyn Campbell, PhD, RN, FAAN2, Marie Diener-West, PhD3, and Barbara A. Curbow, PhD4. (1) Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, HH-750, Baltimore, MD 21205, 4109554121, mgarza-a@jhsph.edu, (2) School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Room 436, Baltimore, MD 2105-2100, (3) Dept. of Biostatistics, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Hygiene E3012, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, (4) Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, 624 N Broadway 7th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205
Domestic violence (DV) shelters play a vital role in helping women to break free of abuse. However, there is a dearth of evaluation research on shelter services. Two important yet unmeasured outcomes are self-sufficiency and empowerment. These are goals of the services provided in many shelters. This presentation determines the extent to which the services provided by a Maryland DV shelter affect psychosocial outcomes such as depression, self-esteem, empowerment, and self-sufficiency. Project WE (Women Empowered) is a longitudinal study of 80 women who resided in a DV shelter for battered women and children. Women were interviewed at entry, exit, and one month after leaving the shelter. Face to face interviews were conducted to collect data on a range of factors including sociodemographics, DV experience, self-sufficiency, and psychosocial outcomes. Women are predominantly African-American (81%), high school graduates (67%), and unemployed (77%). 75% were first time shelter users and 68% experienced psychological, physical, and sexual abuse in the prior year. The mean differences between entry and exit for all three psychosocial outcomes-depression, self-esteem and empowerment-were statistically significant (p<.00). Regression analyses examining women's empowerment scores found that women who were married (p<.10), had children (p<.01), and had left their partner 2 to 5 times (p<.08) reported higher levels of empowerment. Similar analyses will be presented for self-sufficiency scores. These findings suggest that DV shelter services positively affect women's mental well-being. Data from this study will inform the design and delivery of effective service programs to address the unmet needs of battered women.
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of the session, participants will be able to
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Evaluation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.