Institute of Public Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania.
Department of Health, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Arusha, Tanzania.
PLoS One. 2018 Jun 1;13(6):e0198098. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198098. eCollection 2018.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global health and human rights problem. In Tanzania, national studies have shown that half of all women experience partner violence in their lifetime, 38% reported being abused during a period of 12 months and 30% during pregnancy. Despite the benefits of social support to women victims of violence during pregnancy, a majority of women hesitate to seek help and, if they do, they mainly turn to their natal relatives for support. However, this process of help-seeking and the type of support received is not well documented and needs to be explored with a view to future interventions. This article investigates women's own perspectives on the support they receive from natal relatives when experiencing IPV during pregnancy.
Eighteen participants who experienced physical IPV during pregnancy were purposively selected from a cohort of 1,116 pregnant women enrolled in a project that aimed at assessing the impact of intimate partner violence on reproductive health. In-depth interviews were used to explore the social support received from the natal family among women who experienced partner violence during pregnancy. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, coded and analyzed.
Women who experienced severe IPV during pregnancy were more likely to seek help from natal relatives. Severe violence was defined by the women as acts that occurred frequently and/or resulted in injury. The women's natal relatives were willing to provide the support; however, they strongly encouraged women to maintain their marriage so that they could continue caring for their children jointly with their partners. Emotional support was the commonest form of support and included showing love and empathy and praying. Information provided to victims aimed mainly at advising them to maintain their marriage. Practical support included direct financial support and building their economic base to reduce dependency on their partners. When the couple was on the verge of separation, mediation was provided to save the marriage.
Women who experienced partner violence preferred to seek help from their natal relatives. The support provided by natal relatives was beneficial; however, maintaining the marriage for the care of children and family was given the highest priority, over separation. As a consequence, many women continued to live with violence. Stakeholders supporting victims of violence need to understand the priorities of victims of violence and structure intervention to address their needs.
亲密伴侣暴力（IPV）是一个全球性的健康和人权问题。在坦桑尼亚，全国性研究表明，所有女性中有一半在其一生中经历过伴侣暴力，38%的女性报告在 12 个月期间受到虐待，30%的女性在怀孕期间受到虐待。尽管社会支持对怀孕期间遭受暴力的女性有好处，但大多数女性都不愿意寻求帮助，如果她们寻求帮助，主要也会向娘家亲属寻求支持。然而，这种寻求帮助的过程和所获得的支持类型并没有得到很好的记录，需要加以探讨，以便为未来的干预措施提供参考。本文探讨了女性在怀孕期间遭受亲密伴侣暴力时对从娘家亲属那里获得的支持的看法。
从一项旨在评估亲密伴侣暴力对生殖健康影响的 1116 名孕妇队列中，有目的选择了 18 名在怀孕期间经历过身体亲密伴侣暴力的参与者。使用深入访谈的方法，探讨了在怀孕期间经历过伴侣暴力的女性从娘家获得的社会支持。所有访谈都进行了录音、转录、编码和分析。
在怀孕期间经历过严重亲密伴侣暴力的女性更有可能向娘家亲属寻求帮助。严重暴力是指女性认为经常发生或导致受伤的行为。女性的娘家亲属愿意提供支持；然而，他们强烈鼓励女性维持婚姻，以便能够继续与伴侣共同照顾孩子。情感支持是最常见的支持形式，包括表达爱和同情以及祈祷。向受害者提供的信息主要旨在建议他们维持婚姻。实际支持包括直接经济支持和建立经济基础，以减少对伴侣的依赖。当夫妻关系濒临破裂时，提供调解以挽救婚姻。
在怀孕期间经历过亲密伴侣暴力的女性更愿意向娘家亲属寻求帮助。娘家亲属提供的支持是有益的；然而，为了照顾孩子和家庭而维持婚姻被置于首位，超过了离婚。因此，许多女性继续生活在暴力之中。支持暴力受害者的利益相关者需要了解暴力受害者的优先事项，并构建干预措施来满足他们的需求。
