Patriarchy’s Link to Intimate Partner Violence: Applications to Survivors’ Asylum Claims

Eligibility for asylum among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been contested. We summarize social science evidence to show how survivors generally meet asylum criteria. Studies consistently show a relationship between patriarchal factors and IPV, thereby establishing a key asylum criterion that women are being persecuted because of their status as women. Empirical support is also provided for other asylum criteria: Patriarchal norms contribute to state actors’ unwillingness to protect survivors, and survivors’ “political opinions” are linked to an escalation of perpetrators’ violence. The findings have implications for policy reform and support of individual asylum-seekers

“Life at the River is a Living Hell:” a qualitative study of trauma, mental health, substance use and HIV risk behavior among female fish traders from the Kafue Flatlands in Zambia

Abstract Background In Western settings, the relationship between trauma history, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance use, and HIV risk behavior, is well established. Although female fish traders in Zambia are affected by HIV at rates estimated to be 4–14 times higher than the national prevalence, no studies have examined the co-occurring issues of trauma, substance use and HIV risk behavior among this vulnerable population. The current study examined: 1) trauma history, trauma symptoms and HIV risk behaviors and 2) the relationship between these co-occurring issues among female fish traders from the Kafue Flatlands in Zambia. Methods Twenty individual semi-structured qualitative interviews and a focus group discussion (n = 12 participants) were conducted with female fish traders in the Kafue Flatlands of Zambia. Template analysis was used to examine the data. Results The findings indicate that female fish traders in Zambia are at risk of multiple and ongoing traumatic events and daily stressors, severe mental health symptoms (including western conceptualizations of disorders such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complicated grief, as well as local idioms of distress), substance abuse, and HIV sexual risk behaviors. The results suggest a relationship between trauma and HIV sexual risk behavior in this population. Conclusions The indication of these co-occurring issues demonstrates the need for HIV prevention intervention efforts, which account for trauma, mobility, and psychosocial outcomes in order to reduce HIV sexual risk behavior among female fish traders in Zambia.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136165/1/12905_2017_Article_369.pd

Couple-Based Behavioral HIV Interventions by the Social Intervention Group: Progress, Gaps, and Future Directions

Purpose: This paper reports a review of couple-based behavioral HIV interventions conducted by the Social Intervention Group (SIG); and addresses gaps, future directions, and implications for couple-based HIV interventions. Method: We performed a literature review for SIG research on intervention and prevention studies involving couples/partners. Results: We identified nine couple-based interventions. Outcomes included reduced sexual and substance use-related risk behaviors and improved use of anti-retroviral treatment. We conducted these studies in diverse venues, including needle/syringe exchange programs, primary care clinics, and criminal justice settings. Conclusions: The findings of this review provide strong evidence for the efficacy of couple-based HIV interventions in reducing sexual HIV risks and linkage to HIV and substanceuse treatment. SIG has advanced couple-based HIV intervention research science by improving study design, intervention core components, conceptual models, and implementation strategies; which have informed scientific directions and transformed couple-based HIV prevention research

Patriarchy’s Link to Intimate Partner Violence: Applications to Survivors’ Asylum Claims

Accepted for publication in Violence Against Women (in press).Eligibility for asylum among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been contested. We summarize social science evidence to show how survivors generally meet asylum criteria. Studies consistently show a relationship between patriarchal factors and IPV, thereby establishing a key asylum criterion that women are being persecuted because of their status as women. Empirical support is also provided for other asylum criteria: Patriarchal norms contribute to state actors’ unwillingness to protect survivors, and survivors’ “political opinions” are linked to an escalation of perpetrators’ violence. The findings have implications for policy reform and support of individual asylum-seekers.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/171952/1/Saunders_Jiwatram-Negron_Cardena & Nanasi (in press) Patriarchy’s Link to Intimate Partner Violence - Asylum Applications 3-31-22 VAW.pdfDescription of Saunders_Jiwatram-Negron_Cardena & Nanasi (in press) Patriarchy’s Link to Intimate Partner Violence - Asylum Applications 3-31-22 VAW.pdf : Main articleSEL

Patriarchy’s Link to Intimate Partner Violence: Applications to Survivors’ Asylum Claims (Published Version)

Eligibility for asylum for survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been contested. We summarize social science evidence to show how such survivors generally meet asylum criteria. Studies consistently show a relationship between patriarchal factors and IPV, thereby establishing a key asylum criterion that women are being persecuted because of their status as women. Empirical support is also provided for other asylum criteria, specifically: patriarchal norms contribute to state actors’ unwillingness to protect survivors, and survivors’ political opinions are linked to an escalation of perpetrators’ violence. The findings have implications for policy reform and supporting individual asylum-seekers.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/175359/1/Saunders-Jiwatram-Negron-Nanasi-Cardenas (2022) Patriarchy's Link to Intimate Partner Violence - Applications to Survivors’ Asylum Claims VAW CC Lic.pdfDescription of Saunders-Jiwatram-Negron-Nanasi-Cardenas (2022) Patriarchy's Link to Intimate Partner Violence - Applications to Survivors’ Asylum Claims VAW CC Lic.pdf : Published version of article with Creative Commons Lic.SEL

Patriarchy’s Link to Intimate Partner Violence: Applications to Survivors’ Asylum Claims

Eligibility for asylum among survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) has recently been contested. We summarize social science evidence to show how survivors generally meet asylum criteria. Studies consistently show a relationship between patriarchal factors and IPV, thereby establishing a key asylum criterion that women are being persecuted because of their status as women. Empirical support is also provided for other asylum criteria: Patriarchal norms contribute to state actors’ unwillingness to protect survivors, and survivors’ “political opinions” are linked to an escalation of perpetrators’ violence. The findings have implications for policy reform and support of individual asylum-seekers

The association between psychosocial and structural-level stressors and HIV injection drug risk behavior among Malaysian fishermen: A cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Malaysian fishermen have been identified as a key-affected HIV population with HIV rates 10 times higher than national rates. A number of studies have identified that psychosocial and structural-level stressors increase HIV injection drug risk behaviors. The purpose of this paper is to examine psychosocial and structural-level stressors of injection drug use and HIV injection drug risk behaviors among Malaysian fishermen. Methods The study employs a cross-sectional design using respondent driven sampling methods. The sample includes 406 fishermen from Pahang state, Malaysia. Using multivariate logistic regressions, we examined the relationship between individual (depression), social (adverse interactions with the police), and structural (poverty-related) stressors and injection drug use and risky injection drug use (e.g.., receptive and non-receptive needle sharing, frontloading and back-loading, or sharing drugs from a common container). Results Participants below the poverty line had significantly lower odds of injection drug use (OR 0.52, 95 % CI: 0.27-0.99, p = 0.047) and risky injection drug use behavior (OR 0.48, 95 % CI: 0.25-0.93, p = 0.030). In addition, participants with an arrest history had higher odds of injection use (OR 19.58, 95 % CI: 9.81-39.10, p < 0.001) and risky injection drug use (OR 16.25, 95 % CI: 4.73-55.85, p < 0.001). Participants with depression had significantly higher odds of engaging in risky injection drug use behavior (OR 3.26, 95 % 1.39-7.67, p = 0.007). Focusing on participants with a history of injection drug use, we found that participants with depression were significantly more likely to engage in risky drug use compared to participants below the depression cutoff (OR 3.45, 95 % CI: 1.23-9.66, p < 0.02). Conclusions Findings underscore the need to address psychosocial and structural-level stressors among Malaysian fishermen to reduce HIV injection drug risk behaviors