Étude exploratoire du point de vue des femmes et des hommes sur les services utilisés en matière de violence conjugale

La violence conjugale, longtemps considérée comme un problème privé, est maintenant perçue comme un problème social répandu. Ses effets néfastes sur les femmes, les couples, les enfants et la société sont maintenant mieux connus des différents réseaux d’intervention qui sont dès lors appelés à travailler ensemble afin de développer des approches plus complémentaires basées sur une compréhension commune du problème. Une analyse des mécanismes de concertation intersectorielle mis en place au Québec a été entreprise auprès des intervenants et intervenantes offrant des services en violence conjugale dans différents secteurs du réseau de la santé et des services sociaux (Rondeau et al., 2000). La présente étude est la première qui, à partir d’une démarche qualitative du discours des femmes victimes de violence conjugale et des hommes ayant exercé des comportements violents envers leur conjointe, a permis d’explorer la perception des interventions reçues, de leur cohérence, de leur complémentarité et de leurs effets sur la cessation de la violence et sur le cheminement des individus. Les résultats démontrent, entre autres choses, que les répondants, mais surtout les répondantes, consultent un grand nombre d’intervenants-es qui proviennent d’un nombre aussi grand de ressources. Cependant, la lourdeur de leurs démarches ne vient pas tant du nombre d’organismes fréquentés ou de la trajectoire effectuée à travers ces institutions, mais plutôt d’un manque de coordination intra sectoriel et intersectoriel entre les professionnels-les de ces ressources.Long considered a private matter, domestic violence is now viewed as a widespread social problem. Its harmful consequences on women, couples, children as well as society are now better known by the various networks of professionals summoned to work together in order to develop approaches that are more complementary and that are based on a common understanding of the problem. An analysis has been undertaken of intersectorial consultation mechanisms current in Québec with professionals involved in services concerning domestic violence in various sectors of the health and social services network. The current study—the first to analyse from a qualitative perspective the discourse of women who have been victims of domestic violence and men who have adopted violent behaviours toward their partner — has allowed to explore the perception of interventions received, their coherence, their complementarity and their impact on cessation of violence as well as the individual’s progress. The results show among other things, that participants of the study, men but especially women consult an important number of professionals from a wide range of resources. However, the weight of steps taken does not come as much from the number of organizations or the path through each of these organizations, but rather from the lack of intra/inter/sectorial coordination between professionals within these agencies.La violencia conyugal, por largo tiempo considerada como un problema privado, es actualmente percibida como un problema social muy propagado. Sus efectos nefastos en las mujeres, parejas, niños y sociedad son actualmente mejor conocidos por las diversas redes de intervención, que desde entonces están destinadas a trabajar juntas a fin de desarrollar enfoques más complementarios basados en una comprensión común del problema. Un análisis de los mecanismos de concertación intersectorial, puesto en marcha en Québec, ha sido tomado por los(as) interventores(as) que ofrecen servicios de violencia conyugal en diferentes sectores de la red de salud y de los servicios sociales (Rondeau et al., 2000). El presente estudio es el primero que, a partir de un proceso cualitativo del discurso de las mujeres víctimas de violencia conyugal y de hombres que han adoptado comportamientos violentos para con su pareja, ha permitido explorar la percepción de las intervenciones recibidas, de su coherencia, complementariedad y sus efectos en el cese de la violencia y el encaminamiento de los individuos. Los resultados demuestran, entre otras cosas, que los implicados, pero sobre todo las implicadas, consultan a un gran número de interventores(as) que provienen de un número igualmente grande de recursos. Sin embargo, el peso de sus gestiones no proviene tanto del número de organismos frecuentados o de la trayectoria efectuada a través de estas instituciones, sino más bien de una falta de coordinación intrasectorial e intersectorial entre los(as) profesionales de estos recursos.A violência conjugal, durante muito tempo considerada como um problema privado é agora tida como um problema social muito difundido. Seus efeitos nefastos nas mulheres, nos casais, nas crianças e na sociedade são atualmente melhor conhecidos das diferentes redes de intervenção, que são doravante chamadas a trabalhar em conjunto a fim de desenvolver abordagens mais complementares, baseadas na compreensão comum do problema. Uma análise dos mecanismos de acordo intersetorial criados no Quebec foi iniciada junto aos prestadores de serviços em violência conjugal em diferentes setores da rede da saúde e dos serviços sociais (Rondeau et al., 2000). O presente estudo é o primeiro que, a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa do discurso das mulheres vítimas de violência conjugal e de homens tendo adotado comportamentos violentos com suas esposas, permitiu explorar a percepção das intervenções recebidas, sua coerência, sua complementaridade e seus efeitos na interrupção da violência e no evolução das pessoas. Os resultados demonstram, entre outros, que os participantes, principalmente as mulheres, consultam um grande número de prestadores de serviços que vêm de um número tão grande quanto de recursos. Entretanto, o peso de suas abordagens não vêm tanto do número de organismos freqüentados ou da trajetória efetuada através destas instituições, mas de uma falta de coordenação intra-setorial e intersetorial entre os profissionais destes recursos

Le dépistage de la violence conjugale dans les centres hospitaliers : Implantation et évaluation d’un ensemble d’outils

Un outil de dépistage et d’intervention en violence conjugale a été implanté dans différents départements de deux centres hospitaliers. Ce projet de recherche évaluative fait état des facteurs qui ont favorisé ou nui à l’implantation du protocole. Ces facteurs ont été rapportés lors d’entrevues qualitatives réalisées avec les cadres des hôpitaux qui se sont impliqués dans le processus d’implantation. Ainsi, ces facteurs sont organisationnels (ressources humaines et budgétaires de l’hôpital, roulement de personnel, fonctionnement des départements et mandat des hôpitaux), reliés à l’intervention (confidentialité, suivi régulier de la clientèle) et personnels (attitude des intervenants et intervenantes et implication des personnes clés).A screening and intervention protocol in domestic violence has been implemented in two hospitals in the Montreal region. This research project looks at the factors that have helped or impaired this implementation. These factors have been reported during qualitative interviews with hospital management implicated in the implementation process. In fact, these factors are organisational, related to intervention and personal

Intimate partner violence and other associated problems : sectoral cooperation to optimize the safety of women and children

The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of sectoral cooperation strategy involving different organizations concerned by intimate partner violence and other co-occurring problems in the province of Quebec (Canada). The sectoral cooperation meetings (N = 63) were held from February 2018 to June 2019 and 250 evaluation questionnaires were filled out by the practitioners. The data collection tool was composed of open-ended questions (qualitative section) along with Likert scales and multiple-choice questions (quantitative section). The results showed that a large majority of the practitioners considered that cooperation helped to improve the safety of the women and their children and to optimize their practice. Likewise, all of the practitioners considered that sectoral cooperation represented a winning strategy worthy of further development. Findings highlight the importance to support practitioners in complex clinical situations when IPV co-occurred alongside mental health problems, addiction problems, or child maltreatment, and this, in order to ensure the safety of intimate partner violence victims and their children

La COVID-19 et ses impacts sur la violence conjugale et la violence envers les enfants : ce que nous disent la recherche et la pratique

Bien que nécessaires, les mesures de confinement et de distanciation sociale mises en place pour freiner la propagation du coronavirus sont susceptibles d’être associées à une hausse du risque de violence conjugale (VC) et de violence envers les enfants (VEE) ainsi qu’à des défis d’intervention importants. Cet article vise à témoigner des impacts que la pandémie a eus et continue d’avoir sur la pratique en protection de la jeunesse dans les cas de cooccurrence de VC et de VEE, à travers les récits de pratique de cinq intervenantes et gestionnaires. Ceux-ci permettent de mettre en évidence les difficultés et les défis suscités par l’actuelle crise sanitaire pour les familles ainsi que pour la pratique, mais aussi la grande capacité d’adaptation des intervenantes et des gestionnaires, qui ont su relever les défis suscités par ces circonstances extraordinaires et se sont mobilisés pour trouver des solutions innovantes. Malgré tout, les témoignages soulèvent la nécessité pour les organisations et les intervenantes de se préparer à une autre situation d’urgence similaire.While necessary, confinement and social distancing measures implemented to slow the spread of the coronavirus are likely to be linked to a higher risk of domestic violence and child abuse as well as significant intervention challenges. This article tells of the impacts that the pandemic has had and continues to have on the practice of youth protection in cases of co-occurrent domestic violence and child abuse, through reports on the cases of five workers and managers. These serve to showcase the difficulties and challenges to which this current health crisis has given rise for families and professional practice. It also speaks to the tremendous adaptability of caseworkers and managers who have ably met the challenges generated by these extraordinary circumstances and have mobilized to come up with innovative solutions. Still, these testimonials address the need for organizations and caseworkers to take measures to prepare for another similar emergency

Stressed and distressed: how is the COVID-19 pandemic associated with sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction?

Background: The Canadian government’s response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic included the implementation of several restrictive measures since March 2020. These actions sought to decrease social contact and increase physical distancing, including that within universities. Such constraints were required to impede the transmission of the virus; however, concerns remain about their impact on the sexual and intimate relationships of university employees and students. Aim: This study examined the associations between COVID-19–related stress and sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction, also testing the mediating role of psychological distress. Methods: The models were tested with Canadian data collected from university employees and students in 2 phases: the first wave in April-May 2020 (T1; n = 2754) and the second wave in November-December 2021 (T2; n = 1430), 18 months afterward. Participants completed self-report questionnaires online. Path analyses were performed to test the associations of the mediation models. Outcomes: The principal outcomes included psychological distress determined via the Patient Health Questionnaire–4, relationship satisfaction measured via the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and sexual satisfaction and sexual frequency ascertained through a single item each. Results: Overall, COVID-19–related stress was associated with higher psychological distress, which in turn was related to lower sexual frequency, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction. Similar results were obtained with T1 and T2 data, indicating the mediating effect of psychological distress. Clinical implications: These findings increase scholarly comprehension of the negative associations between stress/distress and sexual and romantic relationships. Sexuality and close relationships are vital to the quality of human life; thus, targeted interventions should be developed to reduce COVID-19–related stress and its impact on sexual and romantic relationships to mitigate the long-term influences of this unique global challenge. Strengths & Limitations: To our knowledge, this study is the first to use a large sample size and replicate findings in 2 waves. Nonetheless, it is limited by the use of cross-sectional data. Longitudinal studies with the same participants are mandated to better understand the evolution of these outcomes. Conclusion: COVID-19–related stress and psychological distress were found among participating university students and employees and were associated with lower sexual satisfaction, sexual frequency, and intimate relationship satisfaction. These results were observed at the early onset of the pandemic and 18 months afterward, suggesting that the stress generated by the pandemic were not mere reactions to the onset of the pandemic but persisted over time

Protein-coding variants implicate novel genes related to lipid homeostasis contributing to body-fat distribution.

Body-fat distribution is a risk factor for adverse cardiovascular health consequences. We analyzed the association of body-fat distribution, assessed by waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index, with 228,985 predicted coding and splice site variants available on exome arrays in up to 344,369 individuals from five major ancestries (discovery) and 132,177 European-ancestry individuals (validation). We identified 15 common (minor allele frequency, MAF ≥5%) and nine low-frequency or rare (MAF <5%) coding novel variants. Pathway/gene set enrichment analyses identified lipid particle, adiponectin, abnormal white adipose tissue physiology and bone development and morphology as important contributors to fat distribution, while cross-trait associations highlight cardiometabolic traits. In functional follow-up analyses, specifically in Drosophila RNAi-knockdowns, we observed a significant increase in the total body triglyceride levels for two genes (DNAH10 and PLXND1). We implicate novel genes in fat distribution, stressing the importance of interrogating low-frequency and protein-coding variants