Barriers and Facilitators to Formal Support for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence in Rural North America: A Scoping Review

Abstract

This scoping review aimed to summarize the perspectives of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) seeking help in rural North America. Using five databases (CINAHL Plus with Full Text, Criminal Justice Abstracts and Full Text, Medline, PsycINFO, SocINDEX), 14 peer-reviewed empirical articles published in English from 2015 to April 2025 were identified. Included articles captured more barriers (e.g., concerns about privacy in rural communities) and fewer facilitators (e.g., experienced providers) to accessing services for IPV. A limited number of articles captured survivors’ perspectives on remote services. More research is needed to understand the experiences of survivors of IPV seeking help in rural areas, especially related to facilitators of accessing services and how remote services impact this experience.

Keywords

intimate partner violence services barriers facilitators rural

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