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African Immigrant Women’s Perspectives on Network Support and Intimate Partner Violence: A Community-Based Study

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Abstract

Purpose

Intimate partner violence (IPV) tends to increase for African immigrant women upon arrival in the United States because of adjustment and acculturation stress, non-citizen status, language barriers, economic insecurity, and lack of social support. The aim of this study was to speak directly with African immigrant women living in the same U.S. urban community and ask them about their perceptions of IPV. Authors posit that by learning more about IPV perceptions from African immigrant women, we can contribute to the literature on African immigrant women’s experiences and, using transnational intersectionality theory, we can identify how social service providers may use these perceptions to create more inclusive and effective services for African immigrant women experiencing IPV.

Method

Community-based participatory focus groups and interpretive phenomenology were used to understand the perceptions of IPV from 22 women (10 Ethiopian immigrant women and 12 immigrant women from various French speaking countries in Africa). Cultural brokers helped with the development of research questions, recruitment materials, interview process, and the review of interview transcripts.

Results

Women reported concerns and barriers precipitated by intersections of culture and patriarchy, judgment from others, and fear of losing financial support. Findings also show that perceptions of IPV and decision-making to seek help were influenced by factors associated with their countries of origin as well as their host country, the United States.

Conclusions

It is important for clinicians to understand the ways in which culture, ethnicity, and transnational perspectives intersect with responses to IPV and use this to inform and support services for these populations. Implications are provided.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Couple and Family Therapy Program, Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services, College of Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, 97404, USA

    Bertranna A. Muruthi

  2. Counseling Psychology Program, Department of Counseling Psychology and Human Services, College of Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

    Reid E. Thompson Cañas, Lindsey Romero, Krista Chronister, Yijun Cheng & Aakanksha Lahoti

  3. School Psychology Program, Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences, College of Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

    Abiola Taiwo

  4. Educational Leadership Program, Department of Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership, College of Education, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

    Bernice S. Krakani

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  1. Bertranna A. Muruthi
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Muruthi, B.A., Cañas, R.E.T., Romero, L. et al. African Immigrant Women’s Perspectives on Network Support and Intimate Partner Violence: A Community-Based Study. J Fam Viol 38, 803–813 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00422-5

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