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Multilevel Risk and Protective Factors for Intimate Partner Violence Among African, Asian, and Latina Immigrant and Refugee Women: Perceptions of Effective Safety Planning Interventions

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Abstract

Immigrant and refugee women are at high risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) and intimate partner homicide (IPH). Given the growing number of immigrants and refugees in the US and the concerns about IPV and IPH among immigrant and refugee groups, this paper aims to identify survivors and practitioners’ perceptions of (a) common and culturally specific risk and protective factors for IPV and IPH for immigrant and refugee women and (b) areas of safety planning interventions for survivors who are at risk for severe or lethal violence by an intimate partner. Qualitative data for this multi-site study were collected from women and practitioners residing in seven geographically diverse US locations. Eighty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with adult immigrant and refugee survivors of IPV, who identified as Asian (n = 30), Latina (n = 30), and African (n = 23). Additionally, nine focus groups and five key informant interviews were conducted with practitioners (n = 62) who serve immigrant and refugee survivors of IPV. Results revealed multilevel risk and protective factors for IPV/IPH found at the societal level (e.g., patriarchal cultural norms), relationship level (e.g., partner abusive behaviors), and individual level (e.g., acculturation in the US). These findings can inform the development of culturally responsive risk assessment and safety planning interventions across legal, social service, and healthcare settings.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health & Human Development (R01HD081179-01A1); Dr. Sabri was supported by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health & Human Development (K99HD082350 and R00HD082350). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, Community Public Health Nursing, John Hopkins University School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 North Wolfe Street, Room 469, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Bushra Sabri

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Nkiru Nnawulezi

  3. Department of Organizational Systems Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Veronica P. S. Njie-Carr

  4. School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA

    Jill Messing & Allison Ward-Lasher

  5. Community Public Health Nursing, John Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Carmen Alvarez & Jacquelyn C. Campbell

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  1. Bushra Sabri
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Correspondence to Bushra Sabri.

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Sabri, B., Nnawulezi, N., Njie-Carr, V.P.S. et al. Multilevel Risk and Protective Factors for Intimate Partner Violence Among African, Asian, and Latina Immigrant and Refugee Women: Perceptions of Effective Safety Planning Interventions. Race Soc Probl 10, 348–365 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-018-9247-z

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