 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
|
| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Henrica A.F.M. Jansen, MD, MSc, MPH, Department of Gender and Women's Health, World Health Organization, 20 Ave. Appia, Geneva 27, 1211, Switzerland, 4122 791 3106, jansenh@who.int, Ana Flavia D'Oliveira, MD, PhD, School of Preventive Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 455 2o. andar, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Miguel Ramos, MPH, Facultad de Salud Publica, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Av Honoria Delgado 430, San Martin de Porres, Lima 31, Peru, Kritaya Archavanitkul, PhD, Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Puttamonthon 4 Road, Nakhonpathom 73170, Thailand, and Lori Heise, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), 1600 K St. N.W., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006.
The WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence has been conducted to date in eight culturally diverse countries (Bangladesh, Brazil, Japan, Namibia, Peru, Tanzania, Thailand, and Samoa). Results from Japan, Thailand, Peru and Brazil indicate that very few women who have experienced intimate partner violence reported seeking help from formal services, such as doctors, nurses and police. If women do seek help, they are more likely to rely on their relatives (parents, brothers and sisters) and friends for support. However, many women actively seek to end violence by temporarily leaving their homes among other responses. The study combines quantitative and qualitative methods to describe the variety of strategies that women use to minimize or end violence. The findings also highlight the numerous barriers that women face for obtaining timely support from both formal and informal institutions. The findings are being used to develop and implement more effective strategies and services to prevent, control and respond to the consequences of violence against women.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault
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.