Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structural and Institutional Barriers to Help-Seeking among Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Ghana

Journal of Family Violence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

The literature shows that the majority of Ghanaian women who experience IPV do not seek help, but there is limited understanding of the barriers to their help-seeking behaviours from either an individual or an institutional perspective.

Methods

This study used qualitative data from 30 women in three of Ghana’s 16 administrative regions (Ashanti, Upper East, and Greater Accra) to explore IPV victims’ experiences of help-seeking. Fifteen staff at the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in the three selected regions were also interviewed to examine barriers to help-seeking from an institutional perspective.

Results

Results of the thematic analysis showed lack of trust in formal support channels, lack of knowledge about DOVVSU, and fear of partner arrest were common barriers identified by victims. From an institutional perspective, barriers ranged from inadequate resources, including administrative and logistical support, to inadequately trained personnel, visibility and distance to DOVVSU offices, lack of privacy at DOVVSU offices, and financial constraints.

Conclusion

The findings suggest the need for future interventions to take into account both individual and institutional factors associated with victims’ help-seeking decisions. The development of a multifaceted solution responsive to the needs of IPV victims should involve addressing the various barriers identified in this study.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • ActionAid. (2019). Falling through the cracks: Tackling the Justice deficit for women. ActionAidUK: ActionAidGhana. https://www.actionaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/falling_through_the_cracks.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Adu-Gyamfi, E. (2014). Challenges undermining domestic violence victims’ access to justice in Mampong municipality of Ghana. Journal of Law Policy & Globalization, 27, 75–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Agbitor, K. (2012). Addressing domestic violence cases in Ghana: A study of the practice methodologies of Accra regional DOVVSU. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Ghana)

  • Anyemedu, A., Tenkorang, E. Y., & Dold, P. (2017). Ghanaian women’s knowledge and perceptions of services available to victims of intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 35(3–4), 682–706

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bashiru, A. M. (2012). Sexual violence against women and their human rights in the Wa Municipality in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Unpublished Master’s Thesis) Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands Retrieved fromhttps://doi.org/Thesiseurnl/Pub/13058/Bashiru%20Bashiru_bashi_1691.Pdf

  • Boateng, F. D. (2015). Victims of sexual assaults: The experiences of Ghanaian women. International Review of Victimology, 21(3), 343–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrillo, D. (2021). Police culture and gender: an evaluation of police officers’ practices and responses to domestic abuse. Journal of Global Faultlines, 8(1), 69–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cattaneo, L. B., Dunn, J. L., & Chapman, A. R. (2013). The court impact scale: A tool for evaluating IPV victims’ experience in court. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28(5), 1088–1108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cerulli, C., Kothari, C. L., Dichter, M., Marcus, S., Wiley, J., & Rhodes, K. V. (2014). Victim participation in intimate partner violence prosecution: Implications for safety. Violence Against Women, 20(5), 539–560

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, S. Y., Wachter, K., Kappas, A., Brown, M. L., Messing, J. T., Bagwell-Gray, M., & Jiwatram-Negron, T. (2020). Patterns of help-seeking strategies in response to intimate partner violence: a latent class analysis.Journal of Interpersonal Violence,0886260520966671

  • Colombini, M., Mayhew, S., Ali, S. H., Shuib, R., & Watts, C. (2013). “I feel it is not enough… Health providers’ perspectives on services for victims of intimate partner violence in Malaysia. BMC Health Services Research, 13(1), 1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dias, N. G., Costa, D., Soares, J., Hatzidimitriadou, E., Ioannidi-Kapolou, E., Lindert, J., Sundin, Ö., Toth, O., Barros, H., & Fraga, S. (2019). Social support and the intimate partner violence victimization among adults from six European countries. Family Practice, 36(2), 117–124

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Djikanović, B., Fo Wong, L., Jansen, S., Koso, H. A. F. M., Simić, S., Otašević, S., S., & Lagro-Janssen, A. (2012). Help-seeking behaviour of Serbian women who experienced intimate partner violence. Family Practice, 29(2), 189–195

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eastman, B. J., Bunch, S. G., Williams, A. H., & Carawan, L. W. (2007). Exploring the perceptions of domestic violence service providers in rural localities. Violence Against Women, 13(7), 700–716

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fanslow, J. L., & Robinson, E. M. (2010). Help-seeking behaviors and reasons for help seeking reported by a representative sample of women victims of intimate partner violence in New Zealand. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25(5), 929–951

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Organization.

  • Ghana Statistical Service. (2009). Ghana demographic and health survey 2008. Accra, Ghana: ICF Macro

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghana Police Service (2017). DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND VICTIMS SUPPORT UNIT (DOVVSU). https://police.gov.gh/en/index.php/domestic-violence-victims-support-unit-dovvsu/

  • Ghana Statisical Service. (2012). 2010 population and housing census: summary report of final results. Ghana Statistical Service Accra

  • Ghana Statistical Service. (2013a). 2010 Population & Housing Census: Regional Analytical Report Greater Accra Region. Accra-Ghana: Ghana Statistical Service

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghana Statistical Service. (2013b). 2010 Population and Housing Census: Regional Analytical Report Ashanti Region. Accra-Ghana: Ghana Statistical Service. http://www.statsghana.gov.gh/docfiles/2010phc/2010_PHC_Regional_Analytical_Reports_Ashanti_Region.pdf

  • Ghana Statistical Service (2013c). 2010 Population and Housing Census: Regional Analytical Report Upper East Region. In Ghana Statistical Service. Ghana Statistical Service, Accra-Ghana. www.statsghana.gov.gh

  • Goodman, L. A., Cattaneo, L. B., Thomas, K., Woulfe, J., Chong, S. K., & Smyth, K. F. (2015). Advancing domestic violence program evaluation: Development and validation of the Measure of Victim Empowerment Related to Safety (MOVERS). Psychology of Violence, 5(4), 355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, L. A., Sullivan, C. M., Serrata, J., Perilla, J., Wilson, J. M., Fauci, J. E., & DiGiovanni, C. D. (2016). Development and validation of the trauma-informed practice scales. Journal of Community Psychology, 44(6), 747–764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodson, A., & Hayes, B. E. (2021). Help-seeking behaviors of intimate partner violence victims: a cross-national analysis in developing nations. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 36(9–10), NP4705–NP4727

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hart, B. J., & Klein, A. F. (2013). Practical Implications of Current Intimate Partner Violence Research for Victim Advocates and Service Providers. Washington, DC. National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/244348.pdf National Criminal Justice Reference Service; NCJ 244348

  • Hulley, J., Bailey, L., Kirkman, G., Gibbs, G. R., Gomersall, T., Latif, A., & Jones, A. (2022). Intimate partner violence and barriers to help-seeking among Black, Asian, minority ethnic and immigrant women: a qualitative metasynthesis of global research.Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,15248380211050590

  • Ibrahim, N. (2022). Experiences of abused Muslim women with the Australian criminal justice system. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(3–4), NP2360–NP2386

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Institute of Development Studies (IDS); Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) & Associates. (2016). Domestic violence in Ghana: Incidence, attitudes, determinants and consequences.IDS Brighton

  • Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER) (2016). Annual Report. University of Ghana, Legon

  • International Monetary Fund (2003). Ghana: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. In IMF Staff Country Reports (Vol. 03, Issue 56). IMF Washington D.C. https://doi.org/10.5089/9781451814798.002

  • Iranzad, I., Bani, S., Hasanpour, S., Mohammadalizadeh, S., & Mirghafourvand, M. (2014). Perceived social support and stress among pregnant women at health centers of Iran-Tabriz. Journal of Caring Sciences, 3(4), 287

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Laing, L. (2017). Secondary victimization: Domestic violence survivors navigating the family law system. Violence Against Women, 23(11), 1314–1335

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leonardsson, M., & San, S. M. (2017). Prevalence and predictors of help-seeking for women exposed to spousal violence in India: a cross-sectional study. Bmc Women’S Health, 17(1), 1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liang, B., Goodman, L., Tummala-Narra, P., & Weintraub, S. (2005). A theoretical framework for understanding help-seeking processes among survivors of intimate partner violence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 36(1–2), 71–84

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • .Linos, N., Slopen, N., Berkman, L., Subramanian, S. V., & Kawachi, I. (2014). Predictors of help-seeking behaviour among women exposed to violence in Nigeria: a multilevel analysis to evaluate the impact of contextual and individual factors. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 68(3), 211–217

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macy, R. J., Rizo, C. F., Guo, S., & Ermentrout, D. M. (2013). Changes in intimate partner violence among women mandated to community services. Research on Social Work Practice, 23(6), 624–638

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McFarlane, J., Symes, L., Maddoux, J., Gilroy, H., & Koci, A. (2014). Is length of shelter stay and receipt of a protection order associated with less violence and better functioning for abused women? Outcome data 4 months after receiving services. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 29(15), 2748–2774

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McGirr, S. A., & Sullivan, C. M. (2017). Critical consciousness raising as an element of empowering practice with survivors of domestic violence. Journal of Social Service Research, 43(2), 156–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metheny, N., & Stephenson, R. (2019). Help seeking behavior among women who report intimate partner violence in Afghanistan: An analysis of the 2015 Afghanistan demographic and health survey. Journal of Family Violence, 34(2), 69–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, L. (2011). Service Users ’ Perceptions of the Domestic Violence and Victims ’ Support Unit, Ghana Police. Research Project

  • Mookerjee, S., Cerulli, C., Fernandez, I. D., & Chin, N. P. (2015). Do Hispanic and non-Hispanic women survivors of intimate partner violence differ in regards to their help-seeking? A qualitative study. Journal of Family Violence, 30(7), 839–851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morse, D. S., Lafleur, R., Fogarty, C. T., Mittal, M., & Cerulli, C. (2012). They told me to leave”: how health care providers address intimate partner violence. The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 25(3), 333–342

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Novisky, M. A., & Peralta, R. L. (2015). When women tell: Intimate partner violence and the factors related to police notification. Violence Against Women, 21(1), 65–86

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Odero, M., Hatcher, A. M., Bryant, C., Onono, M., Romito, P., Bukusi, E. A., & Turan, J. M. (2014). Responses to and resources for intimate partner violence: qualitative findings from women, men, and service providers in rural Kenya. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 29(5), 783–805

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Doherty, L. J., Taft, A., Hegarty, K., Ramsay, J., Davidson, L. L., & Feder, G. (2014). Screening women for intimate partner violence in healthcare settings: abridged Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ, 348

  • Parvin, K., Sultana, N., & Naved, R. T. (2016). Disclosure and help seeking behavior of women exposed to physical spousal violence in Dhaka slums. Bmc Public Health, 16(1), 1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul, S. (2016). Intimate partner violence and Women’s help-seeking behaviour: evidence from India. Journal of Interdisciplinary Economics, 28(1), 53–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Postmus, J. L., McMahon, S., Silva-Martinez, E., & Warrener, C. D. (2014). Exploring the challenges faced by Latinas experiencing intimate partner violence. Affilia, 29(4), 462–477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravi, K. E., Robinson, S. R., & Schrag, R. V. (2021). Facilitators of formal help-seeking for adult survivors of IPV in the United States: a systematic review.Trauma, Violence, \& Abuse,1524838021995954

  • Rivas, C. (2010). I don’t feel like I’m in an abusive relationship”: women’s naming of their partner’s abusive behaviours and how this may be affected by institutional definitions. Psychology of Women Section Review, 12(2), 2–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivas, C., Ramsay, J., Sadowski, L., Davidson, L. L., Dunnes, D., Eldridge, S., Hegarty, K., Taft, A., & Feder, G. (2015). Advocacy Interventions to Reduce or Eliminate Violence and Promote the Physical and Psychosocial Well-Being of Women who Experience Intimate Partner Abuse. In Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, (12), CD005043.

  • Sabri, B., Huerta, J., Alexander, K. A., Vil, N. M. S., Campbell, J. C., & Callwood, G. B. (2015). Multiple intimate partner violence experiences: Knowledge, access, utilization and barriers to utilization of resources by women of the African diaspora. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 26(4), 1286

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, C. M., & Virden, T. (2017). Interrelationships among length of stay in a domestic violence shelter, help received, and outcomes achieved. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(4), 434

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swemmer, S. (2022). Abuse shelters discriminate against women. https://www.newframe.com/abuse-shelters-discriminate-against-women/ Accessed (2022). : May 17,

  • Sylaska, K. M., & Edwards, K. M. (2014). Disclosure of intimate partner violence to informal social support network members: A review of the literature. Trauma Violence & Abuse, 15(1), 3–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tenkorang, E. Y. (2018). Women’s autonomy and intimate partner violence in Ghana. International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 44(2), 51–61

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tenkorang, E. Y., Owusu, A. Y., & Kundhi, G. (2018). Help-seeking behavior of female victims of intimate partner violence in Ghana: The role of trust and perceived risk of injury. Journal of Family Violence, 33(5), 341–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tenkorang, E. Y. (2022). A survey analysis of barriers to help-seeking at the Ghana Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU). Journal of Family Violence, 37(4), 601–611

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tutty, L. M. (2015). Addressing the safety and trauma issues of abused women: A cross-Canada study of YWCA shelters. Journal of International Women’s Studies, 16(3), 101–116

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasiliauskaite, Z. (2015). Help-seeking and perceived helpfulness of formal help sources for victims of domestic violence: An exploratory study. European Scientific Journal, 11(26)

  • Wado, Y. D., Mutua, M. K., Mohiddin, A., Ijadunola, M. Y., Faye, C., Coll, C. V., … & Kabiru, C. W. (2021). Intimate partner violence against adolescents and young women in sub-Saharan Africa: who is most vulnerable?. Reproductive Health, 18(1), 1–13

  • WHO. (2017). Violence Against Women. Retrieved on December 17, 2018, from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women

  • World Health Organization. (2012). Understanding and addressing violence against women: Intimate partner violence. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved on August 11, 2022, from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/77432

  • World Bank Group. (2017). Enhancing Urban Resilience in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. City Strengh Resilience-Cities Program. Washington, DC: World Bank Group. Retrieved on August 11, 2022, from: http://hdl.handle.net/10986/27516

  • World Health Organization/London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. (2010). Preventing intimate partner and sexual violence against women: taking action and generating evidence. Geneva: World Health Organization. Retrieved on August 11, 2022, from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44350

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada

    Emmanuel Rohn

  2. Department of Sociology, Memorial University, St. John’s, Canada

    Eric Y Tenkorang

Authors
  1. Emmanuel Rohn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eric Y Tenkorang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emmanuel Rohn.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rohn, E., Tenkorang, E.Y. Structural and Institutional Barriers to Help-Seeking among Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence in Ghana. J Fam Viol 38, 815–827 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00433-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-022-00433-2

Keywords

search

Navigation