Black Women’s Experiences Accessing Health Care and Law Enforcement After Intimate Partner Violence: A Qualitative Pilot Study

Abstract

Background:

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health issue impacting millions of people each year. Black women constitute 14% of the US population but alarmingly comprise 31% of homicides resulting from IPV. African American women survivors of IPV experience intersecting impacts of racism, sexism, and historical mistrust. This research aimed to raise awareness about their experiences of violence and perceptions of institutional support.

Objective:

This study sought to explore African American women’s experiences with IPV and navigation of health care and law enforcement after experiences of violence.

Method:

Critical ethnography was used as an approach for this qualitative study. Black feminism, standpoint, and intersectionality theories were chosen as frameworks. Five participants were recruited from a domestic violence center and the community in a midsized Midwest city. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data from interview transcripts.

Results:

Participants (mean age: 48) were all from zip codes associated with lower financial resources. An overarching theme, Calculating the Risk, and the subthemes, Normalization of Violence, Escalation as a Measure of Worthiness of Support, (Re)traumatization in Failing Systems, and Roll of the Dice emerged. The themes describe challenges of intergenerational violence and navigating health care and law enforcement.

Conclusions:

Findings informed recruitment strategies, interview questions, and safety protocols for a larger study. Findings advance our understanding of women’s experiences navigating oppressive systems. Nurses should use person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally safe strategies when working with African American women survivors of IPV.