Service preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITE
Abstract Background Women in the postpartum period are at greater risk of intimate partner violence (IPV), which may cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm and have a long-lasting negative impact on mother and child. Seeking help in case of IPV in the postpartum period can be difficult. Objec...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20921-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841559090276335616 |
|---|---|
| author | Laura M. Hausmann Lara Seefeld Amera Mojahed Judith T. Mack Susan Garthus-Niegel Julia Schellong |
| author_facet | Laura M. Hausmann Lara Seefeld Amera Mojahed Judith T. Mack Susan Garthus-Niegel Julia Schellong |
| author_sort | Laura M. Hausmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Women in the postpartum period are at greater risk of intimate partner violence (IPV), which may cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm and have a long-lasting negative impact on mother and child. Seeking help in case of IPV in the postpartum period can be difficult. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine service preferences among postpartum women in Germany (non-)affected by IPV. Methods In the cross-sectional study INVITE, postpartum mothers (n = 3,509) were interviewed via telephone. Using the WHO-Violence Against Women Instrument (WHO-VAWI), women were divided into groups: non-affected women and women affected by psychological, physical, and/or sexual IPV. Using analyses of variance, group differences regarding preferred services and modes of service provision were assessed. Examined service domains were psychosocial services (e.g., women´s shelter or self-help groups), medical services (e.g., gynecologist or emergency room), and midwives. Modes of service provision included direct communication (e.g., in person or video conference) and indirect communication (e.g., chat or e-mail). Results People from the women's social environment (e.g., family, friends) and specialized IPV services, such as women's shelters, were the most preferred support. Regarding service categories, women who experienced any type of IPV rated all three service domains less likely to be used than non-affected women. Most preferred provision mode was “in person”. Women affected by physical and/or sexual IPV rated direct modes more negatively than non-affected women. However, there were no differences between (non-)affected women regarding indirect modes, such as e-mails or apps. Discussion The present results indicate that services were rated less likely to be used by postpartum women affected by IPV. Potential barriers which lead to these ratings need to be investigated. Efforts should be made to increase awareness of IPV and the beneficial effects of support. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b213aa9ffbe64c1c8f2cc98f7b7b0a38 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-b213aa9ffbe64c1c8f2cc98f7b7b0a382025-01-05T12:48:51ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111810.1186/s12889-024-20921-yService preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITELaura M. Hausmann0Lara Seefeld1Amera Mojahed2Judith T. Mack3Susan Garthus-Niegel4Julia Schellong5Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyInstitute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyDepartment of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyInstitute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyInstitute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyDepartment of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of TechnologyAbstract Background Women in the postpartum period are at greater risk of intimate partner violence (IPV), which may cause physical, sexual, or psychological harm and have a long-lasting negative impact on mother and child. Seeking help in case of IPV in the postpartum period can be difficult. Objective The purpose of this study was to examine service preferences among postpartum women in Germany (non-)affected by IPV. Methods In the cross-sectional study INVITE, postpartum mothers (n = 3,509) were interviewed via telephone. Using the WHO-Violence Against Women Instrument (WHO-VAWI), women were divided into groups: non-affected women and women affected by psychological, physical, and/or sexual IPV. Using analyses of variance, group differences regarding preferred services and modes of service provision were assessed. Examined service domains were psychosocial services (e.g., women´s shelter or self-help groups), medical services (e.g., gynecologist or emergency room), and midwives. Modes of service provision included direct communication (e.g., in person or video conference) and indirect communication (e.g., chat or e-mail). Results People from the women's social environment (e.g., family, friends) and specialized IPV services, such as women's shelters, were the most preferred support. Regarding service categories, women who experienced any type of IPV rated all three service domains less likely to be used than non-affected women. Most preferred provision mode was “in person”. Women affected by physical and/or sexual IPV rated direct modes more negatively than non-affected women. However, there were no differences between (non-)affected women regarding indirect modes, such as e-mails or apps. Discussion The present results indicate that services were rated less likely to be used by postpartum women affected by IPV. Potential barriers which lead to these ratings need to be investigated. Efforts should be made to increase awareness of IPV and the beneficial effects of support.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20921-yIntimate partner violencePostpartum periodINVITE studyHelp seekingService preferencesService provision |
| spellingShingle | Laura M. Hausmann Lara Seefeld Amera Mojahed Judith T. Mack Susan Garthus-Niegel Julia Schellong Service preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITE BMC Public Health Intimate partner violence Postpartum period INVITE study Help seeking Service preferences Service provision |
| title | Service preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITE |
| title_full | Service preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITE |
| title_fullStr | Service preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITE |
| title_full_unstemmed | Service preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITE |
| title_short | Service preferences among postpartum women (non-)affected by different types of intimate partner violence: insights from the cross-sectional study INVITE |
| title_sort | service preferences among postpartum women non affected by different types of intimate partner violence insights from the cross sectional study invite |
| topic | Intimate partner violence Postpartum period INVITE study Help seeking Service preferences Service provision |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20921-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lauramhausmann servicepreferencesamongpostpartumwomennonaffectedbydifferenttypesofintimatepartnerviolenceinsightsfromthecrosssectionalstudyinvite AT laraseefeld servicepreferencesamongpostpartumwomennonaffectedbydifferenttypesofintimatepartnerviolenceinsightsfromthecrosssectionalstudyinvite AT ameramojahed servicepreferencesamongpostpartumwomennonaffectedbydifferenttypesofintimatepartnerviolenceinsightsfromthecrosssectionalstudyinvite AT judithtmack servicepreferencesamongpostpartumwomennonaffectedbydifferenttypesofintimatepartnerviolenceinsightsfromthecrosssectionalstudyinvite AT susangarthusniegel servicepreferencesamongpostpartumwomennonaffectedbydifferenttypesofintimatepartnerviolenceinsightsfromthecrosssectionalstudyinvite AT juliaschellong servicepreferencesamongpostpartumwomennonaffectedbydifferenttypesofintimatepartnerviolenceinsightsfromthecrosssectionalstudyinvite |