Citation

Wolf ME, Ly U, Hobart MA, Kernic MA. J. Fam. Violence 2003; 18(2): 121-129.

Affiliation

Dept of Epidemiology, Univ of Washington; Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Seattle, Washington; Dept of Health Services, Univ of Washington; School of Medicine, Univ of Washington; Dept of Political Science, Univ of Washington, USA

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1023/A:1022893231951

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is underreported to police. A study was conducted utilizing focus group methodology to identify women's perceptions of the barriers to seeking police help for intimate partner violence (IPV). Facilitators used a structured format with open-ended questions for five focus group sessions that were recorded and subsequently analyzed using Ethnograph software. Participants were 41 women identified from social service agencies in an urban setting serving IPV women with diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Participants identified many barriers for victims, which fell within the following three themes: (1) Predisposing characteristics -- situational and personal factors; (2) fears and negative experiences with police response; and (3) fears of possible repercussions. Participants also described positive experiences with police and generated a 'wish list' for improving police response to IPV. Policies and actions that can be taken by police and social service agencies to address the barriers IPV victims face in seeking police help are discussed.