 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Katherine Morrison and Katherine Morrison. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, P.O. Box 50213, Columbia, SC 29250, 803-772-9423, kmorris72@cs.com
Much research to date concerning victims’ attitudes towards intimate partner violence has explored the viewpoints of white women while largely overlooking the perspectives of African-Americans. The purpose of the present study was to gain an understanding of African-American women’s perceptions towards aspects of intimate partner violence. A 13-item, semi-structured interview guide based on components of the Social Cognitive Theory was developed in order to elicit information from participants. All of the interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts were analyzed using QSR NUD*IST text-based software to assist with coding and organization of data. Data are reported from 15 interviews with African-American women who were self-identified as having survived physical intimate partner violence. Analysis showed emergent themes among these interviews including the process of becoming aware of the abuse, barriers to help-seeking, perceptions of the attitudes of the victims’ social networks (both kin and non-kin), the abuser’s influence on self-esteem, and the concept of the ‘strong black woman’. Results may be used to help enhance public health efforts to reduce the rates of intimate partner violence among African-Americans, a population that has been largely overlooked in current prevention programs.
Learning Objectives:
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.