The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #59075

Kirsten Senturia, PhD¹, Michael S. Smyser, MPH², Sharyne Shiu-Thornton, PhD³, Sandra Ciske, MN, RN², Marianne Sullivan, MPH¹, and James W Krieger, MD, MPH⁴. (1) Epidemiology, Planning and Evaluation Unit, Public Health: Seattle & King County, 999 3rd Ave., Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-205-0562, kirsten.senturia@metrokc.gov, (2) Epidemiology, Planning and Evaluation Unit, Public Health - Seattle & King County, 999 Third Avenue, Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98104, (3) Health Services, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Box 357660, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, (4) Schools of Public Health and Medicine, Public Health-Seattle & King County and University of Washington, 999 Third Ave Suite 1200, Seattle, WA 98104

Domestic violence (DV) is a leading public health issue with significant consequences for women’s health and well-being. Ethnicity and culture influence how women respond to abuse. Using Participatory Action Research, we developed first-language, educational support groups for Cambodian, Ethiopian, Russian, and Somali women. The idea for our group-based intervention emerged from prior qualitative research with nine cultural groups exploring cultural issues related to, and possible solutions for, DV in their communities. Our support groups were designed to increase immigrant and refugee women’s: social support, family management skills, self-esteem, and empowerment. These factors were hypothesized to link directly to stress. Reducing stress was hypothesized to improve quality of life for the DV survivors for whom high levels of stress were a daily reality due to multiple factors including experience of violence, isolation due to DV and immigration situation, lack of acculturation, language barriers, and low socio-economic status. The evaluation used a qualitative/quantitative, pre-post design. We will report on findings from two seven-month (14 session) phases on DV incidence, DV frequency, perceived stress, level of social support, knowledge about help and services and ability to perform daily living skills.

Learning Objectives:

Learning objectives:
• To recognize critical components of a social support intervention for refugee and immigrant DV survivors.
• To understand the connections between DV, stress, isolation and social support.
• To identify how first-language, educational social support groups can result in decreased DV and stress and increased social support and daily living skills.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Immigrant Women

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.