The Lived Experience of Intimate Partner Violence in the Rural Setting

Abstract

Objective: To understand the lived experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) for women living in a rural setting to inform efforts to provide effective care, support, and resources.

Design: Qualitative descriptive.

Setting: Adirondack Mountain region of upstate New York.

Participants: Twelve women with recent experiences of IPV living in a rural area.

Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted.

Results: Key findings were the self-imposed isolation women engage in to manage stigma and the system-wide abuse by law enforcement and the legal system.

Conclusion: The results of this study illustrate the complex web of individual, social, cultural, economic, and political factors that create and perpetuate the problem of IPV. It is critical to eliminate IPV-related stigma, cut through isolation, and address the ongoing system-wide abuse and discrimination women face. Finally, many of the issues raised by the participants, such as discrimination, financial constraints, and problems with the legal system, originate outside the health care system. Therefore, nursing care must be provided as part of a comprehensive public health approach.

Keywords: domestic violence; gender-based violence; intimate partner violence; rural health; women's health.