The Health of Women and Children After Surviving Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Few studies have explored the perspectives of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) regarding their health and their children’s health, their experiences accessing and utilizing health care, and health initiatives that would best serve their families’ needs. We facilitated focus groups with female IPV survivors and adolescents who witnessed IPV. Women described their health and their children’s health as poor and reported challenges with health care utilization, whereas teenagers generally perceived their health as typical for their age. Participants requested health education workshops, community resources, and social support. This study lays the foundation for further research and the development of health initiatives.