Domestic violence poses a major challenge to social workers. Low-income families are significantly more likely to have to contend with domestic violence, as poverty can act as a fuelling factor in this type of conflict. The objective of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of low-income abused women.
Method:
A qualitative research approach was followed to explore and describe the phenomenon of low-income abused women. Purposive and snowball sampling were used to obtain 20 participants. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews. The data were categorized into four themes.
Results:
Domestic violence and poverty are issues that some women might experience. Low-income abused women are especially more vulnerable to domestic violence and poverty limits choices and resources.
Conclusion:
Domestic violence and poverty should be seen in a serious light. Social workers should recognise the complexity and correlation between domestic violence and poverty.
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