Violence against Women: An Exploration of the Physical and Mental Health Trends among Immigrant and Refugee Women in Canada

Violence against women is a serious health and social problem for women worldwide. Researchers have investigated the broad physical and mental health consequences of violence against women but few have focused on immigrant and refugee women. We assessed the history of violence and the impairment of physical and mental health among 60 women participants from the Iranian and Sri Lankan Tamil communities in Toronto, Canada. Our survey findings revealed that the participants had experienced various types of violence throughout their lifespan, with psychological abuse by a spouse/partner occurring most frequently in the past 12 months. Commonly reported types of abuse included insulting, criticizing, and intimidation by partner (psychological abuse); slapping, hitting, and shoving (physical abuse); and forced sexual intercourse and sexually degrading acts (sexual abuse) by a partner/spouse. We found that a substantial proportion of the participants also had experienced physical and mental health impairment, which could be a result of the various types of violence they had experienced throughout their lifespan. Research and practice implications are provided

Case 8 : Reaching the Hard-to-Reach: Conducting Research on Elder Abuse in Toronto\u27s Arab Community

A number of factors common to the post-migration context have been shown to negatively impact the lives of new immigrants to Canada. Within the Arab community in Ashcroft, certain factors such as sponsorship requirements, intergenerational cohabitation practices, financial dependence, language barriers, and cultural stigmas often act as risk factors, increasing the vulnerability of older adults to abuse. Caroline Rochester has recently accepted the research coordinator position for the Elder Abuse Project at Rudyard University. The goal of the study is to identify the key factors that increase the risk of abuse of elders in the Arab community. Once these factors are better understood, it will be possible to develop culturally relevant strategies to address the risks that are amenable to change. Caroline’s team wants to collect qualitative data by organizing focus group interviews with community members; however, she is running into numerous difficulties conducting research with this hard-to-reach population. Mistrust of the research process and the absence of mutually beneficial relationships with the community have brought participant recruitment to a standstill. Moreover, the team’s failure to consider the cultural context of the population being studied has directly inhibited the progress of the project. It is clear that the current research methodology is not working and that a new approach is required. Caroline wonders what actions she should take to improve the research process. The goal of this case is to introduce readers to a number of commonly encountered concerns when conducting research with hard-to-reach and vulnerable populations. Through the development of solutions to the problems faced by the protagonist, readers will become more familiar with the principles of community-based participatory research and gain an understanding of the importance of cultural competence in research practice

Immigrant Mental Health, A Public Health Issue: Looking Back and Moving Forward

The Mental Health Commission of Canada’s (MHCC) strategy calls for promoting the health and wellbeing of all Canadians and to improve mental health outcomes. Each year, one in every five Canadians experiences one or more mental health problems, creating a significant cost to the health system. Mental health is pivotal to holistic health and wellbeing. This paper presents the key findings of a comprehensive literature review of Canadian research on the relationship between settlement experiences and the mental health and well-being of immigrants and refugees. A scoping review was conducted following a framework provided by Arskey and O’Malley (Int J Soc Res Methodol 8:19–32, 2005). Over two decades of relevant literature on immigrants’ health in Canada was searched. These included English language peer-reviewed publications from relevant online databases Medline, Embase, PsycInfo, Healthstar, ERIC and CINAHL between 1990 and 2015. The findings revealed three important ways in which settlement affects the mental health of immigrants and refugees: through acculturation related stressors, economic uncertainty and ethnic discrimination. The recommendations for public health practice and policy are discussed

New lives, new challenges: access to intimate partner violence services for portuguese-speaking immigrant women

Intimate partner violence is a global health issue and the most common form of violence experienced by women. This study explored barriers to accessing help to Intimate partner violence related health services among Portuguese-speaking immigrant women in Toronto, Canada. Exploratory study conducted by a survey and focus group discussions with 12 Portuguese-speaking immigrant women. Results clarify the struggles faced by Portuguese-speaking immigrant women and their pathways to care and help-seeking. Participants reported that the fear of being deported, obtaining evidence of abuse, and lack of language-specific services were the key barriers to seeking help. When available, language-specific community-based services, along with faith and religion, were noted as key factors that supported women’s resilience. Nurses who provide care and services to women who are dealing with Intimate partner violence should rethink the scope of their advocacy actions toward addressing these structural barriers by building alliances with organizations to better serve and protect women in such vulnerable situations

Towards a Global Interdisciplinary Evidence-Informed Practice: Intimate Partner Violence in the Ethiopian Context

Background. Intimate partner violence is a global health issue and is associated with a range of health problems for women. Nurses, as the largest health workforce globally, are well positioned to provide care for abused women. Objectives. This nursing-led interdisciplinary project was conducted to understand the current state of knowledge about intimate partner violence in Ethiopia and make recommendations for country-specific activities to improve response to intimate partner violence through practice changes, education, and research. Methods. The project involved two phases: review of relevant literature and an interdisciplinary stakeholder forum and a meeting with nurse educators. Findings. The literature review identified the pervasiveness and complexity of intimate partner violence and its sociocultural determinants in the Ethiopian context. Two significant themes emerged from the forum and the meeting: the value of bringing multiple disciplines together to address the complex issue of intimate partner violence and the need for health care professionals to better understand their roles and responsibilities in actively addressing intimate partner violence. Conclusions. Further research on the topic is needed, including studies of prevention and resilience and “best practices” for education and intervention. Interdisciplinary and international research networks can support local efforts to address and prevent intimate partner violence

Violência por Parceiro Íntimo entre Mulheres Imigrantes que Falam o Português no Canadá

OBJETIVO Este estudio se llevó a cabo para comprender las experiencias de violencia contra la pareja íntima entre mujeres de países de lengua portuguesa que viven en Toronto. MÉTODO Un estudio fenomenológico fue realizado con 10 mujeres que fueron seleccionadas por líderes del centro comunitario. Las entrevistas fueron transcritas, traducidas y analizadas por categorías. RESULTADOS Las consecuencias de la violencia incluían problemas de salud, impacto en la vida de los niños y sentimientos negativos. Los factores que impedían a la mujer de separarse de las parejas violentas fueron creencias religiosas, tareas diarias desafiadoras y la necesidad de cuidar a sus maridos; y los que las incentivaban a dejar al compañero: la obtención de apoyo familiar y la policía. Algunas mujeres expresaron esperanza con respecto al futuro con su marido. Otras deseaban la separación o la venganza. Sus planes para reconstruir sus vidas sin el marido incluían ser feliz, aprender inglés y ser financieramente estable. CONCLUSIÓN La utilización de esos resultados puede implicar la mejoría del cuidado a esas mujeres.OBJETIVO Este estudo foi realizado para compreender as experiências de violência contra o parceiro íntimo entre mulheres de países de língua portuguesa que vivem em Toronto. MÉTODO Um estudo fenomenológico foi realizado com 10 mulheres que foram selecionadas por líderes do centro comunitário. As entrevistas foram transcritas, traduzidas e analisadas por categorias. RESULTADOS As consequências da violência incluíam problemas de saúde, impacto na vida das crianças e sentimentos negativos. Os fatores que impediam a mulher de se separar dos parceiros violentos foram crenças religiosas, tarefas diárias desafiadoras, e a necessidade de cuidar do marido, e os que as incentivavam a deixar o parceiro, a obtenção de apoio familiar e da polícia. Algumas mulheres expressaram esperança em relação ao futuro com o seu marido. Outras desejavam a separação ou a vingança. Seus planos para reconstruir suas vidas sem o marido incluíam ser feliz, aprender Inglês e ser financeiramente estável. CONCLUSÃO A utilização desses resultados pode implicar a melhoria do cuidado para essas mulheres.OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to understand the experiences of intimate partner violence among women from Portuguese-speaking countries living in the Greater Toronto Area. METHOD A social phenomenological study was conducted with ten Portuguese-speaking women who had experienced intimate partner violence who were selected by community centre leaders. The interviews were transcribed, translated and analysed by categories. RESULTS The consequences of violence included health problems, effects on children, and negative feelings among the victims. Factors preventing the women from leaving abusive partners included religious beliefs, challenging daily jobs, and the need to take care of their husband. Factors that encouraged them to leave included getting support and calling the police. Some women expressed hope for the future either with their husband. Others, desired divorce or revenge. Their plans to rebuild their lives without their husband included being happy, learning English, and being financially stable. CONCLUSION Using these findings can implicate in the improvement of care for these women

Older Brazilian women’s experience of psychological domestic violence: a social phenomenological study

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Domestic violence is a global public health issue, as it is in Brazil. The psychological violence is one of the most prevalent forms of domestic violence, affecting more women than men. However, many older adults do not consider it as a type of domestic violence. In addiction, psychological violence has received little attention from researchers. So, this study aims to further understand the phenomenon of psychological domestic violence perpetrated by relatives against older adult women (60 years and older).\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud A qualitative study was conducted using a social phenomenological approach proposed by Alfred Schütz. In-depth interviews were conducted with 11 older Brazilian women from three different agencies, two in Campina Grande and one in São Bernardo do Campo. Data collection took place between November 2012 and February 2013. We performed data analysis using the key concepts (such as the world of everyday life, natural attitude, intersubjetivity, stock of knowledge, biographical situation, social action, motivation and typification) proposed by Alfred Schutz.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Despite the fact that participants reported being psychologically abused, they also referred to being neglected and financially abused. They revealed being threatened, disrespected, neglected, financially abused, forced to do housework, and humiliated. Older women expressed feelings of sadness, anger, grief, and fear, which had negative effects on their health. Attempts by the participants to change their current situations were unsuccessful and resulted in feelings of helplessness. The abuser’s behaviour will change, and leaving the abusive situation were two possible outcomes pointed for participants.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud A support network is crucial to help changing the behaviour of aggressors and/or to help older adult women leave the abusive situation. Further research is needed to understand the risk factors linked to abuse behaviours, to develop educational programs for the abusers, and to design social support for the victims.The research was funded by a fellowship awarded to the first author by the\ud CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília: DF 70.040-020.\ud The first author acknowledges Linda Knowles, Shaindel Egit, Christopher\ud Brierley and Rodrigo Marques da Silva who edited earlier versions of this\ud paper.\ud The first author also wishes to acknowledge all responsible for the services\ud where the study was conducted

Aspirations for Higher Education among Newcomer Refugee Youth in Toronto: Expectations, Challenges, and Strategies

A large percentage of refugees have low levels of education and official language fluency upon arrival in Canada. Thi spaper discusses educational goals of newcomer refugee youth from three communities in Toronto (Afghan, Karen, and Sudanese), and explores how these are linked to premigration and post-migration determinants. Guided by community-based research principles, we collaborated with eight refugee youth peer researchers and conducted ten focus groups and thirteen interviews with refugee youth. Results show that newcomer refugee youth develop strong aspirations for higher education in Canada as a proactive response to overcome pre-migration experiences of forced migration and educational disruptions. We then discuss how these youth negotiate educational goals in post-migration context in relation to shifts in family responsibilities and everyday encounter with multiple systemic barriers in Canada. In doing this, we examine the thin line between vulnerability and empowerment that refugee youth straddle and reveal policy gaps and contradictions in the depoliticized humanitarianism within refugee resettlement in Canada.Un grand pourcentage de réfugiés a un faible niveau d’ éducation et une faible connaissance des langues officielles à leur arrivée au Canada. Cet article présente les buts éducationnels des nouveaux jeunes réfugiés de trois communautés de Toronto (afghane, karen et soudanaise) et examine en quoi ceux-ci sont liés à des déterminants pré et postmigration. Suivant des principes de recherche communautaire, nous avons travaillé de concert avec huit jeunes chercheurs de ces communautés, avons tenu dix groupes de discussion et réalisé treize entrevues avec des réfugiés. Les résultats montrent que les nouveaux jeunes réfugiés aspirent fortement à une éducation supérieure au Canada en tant que réponse proactive aux expériences prémigration d’un déplacement forcé et aux interruptions dans leur éducation . Nous examinons ensuite les façons dont les jeunes concilient leurs buts éducationnels dans un contexte postmigration par rapport aux changements dans les responsabilités familiales et aux obstacles systémiques au Canada qui font partie de leur quotidien. Ce faisant, nous étudions la mince ligne entre la vulnérabilité et l’autonomisation que chevauchent ces jeunes et mettons au jour les manques dans les politiques et les contradictions dans l’humanitarisme dépolitisé de la réinstallation des réfugiés au Canada

Strengthening health policy response to address intimate partner violence in the Sri Lankan context : final technical report (January, 2014 – March, 2016)

The project identified barriers to developing a coordinated response to intimate partner violence (IPV) in Sri Lanka, and provided the research evidence needed to support strategic policy and programming efforts, while building relationships with non-health sectors for future work, particularly in post-conflict areas in Sri Lanka. From a policy perspective the work calls for a better alignment of the health ministry’s mandate in IPV-related policymaking with the Violence against Women framework under the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Child Development. Few women seek help from hospitals, police, and agencies providing IPV-related services. This project report provides details of outputs and activities