Economic crisis, immigrant women and changing availability of intimate partner violence services: a qualitative study of professionals’ perceptions in Spain

International Journal for Equity in Health

Carmen Vives-Cases⁴  Isabel Goicolea²  Andres A Agudelo-Suarez¹  Erica Briones-Vozmediano³ 

[1] Faculty of Dentistry, University of Antioquia, (Street 67), Medellín, Colombia;Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Epidemiology and Global Health Unit, and Umeå Center for Gender Studies, Umeå University, Umeå (SE-901 87), Sweden;Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, University of Alicante Public Health Research Group, (San Vicente del Raspeig Road), Alicante (03690), Spain;CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Carlos III Institute of Health, (Street Melchor Fernández Almagro), Madrid (28029), Spain

关键词: Spain;    Qualitative study;    Crisis;    Immigrant women;    Intimate partner violence;   

Others  :  1146417
DOI  :  10.1186/s12939-014-0079-1

 received in 2014-04-10, accepted in 2014-08-29,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Introduction

Since 2008, Spain has been in the throes of an economic crisis. This recession particularly affects the living conditions of vulnerable populations, and has also led to a reversal in social policies and a reduction in resources. In this context, the aim of this study was to explore intimate partner violence (IPV) service providers¿ perceptions of the impact of the current economic crisis on these resources in Spain and on their capacity to respond to immigrant women¿s needs experiencing IPV.

Methods

A qualitative study was performed based on 43 semi-structured in-depth interviews to social workers, psychologists, intercultural mediators, judges, lawyers, police officers and health professionals from different services dealing with IPV (both, public and NGO¿s) and cities in Spain (Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia and Alicante) in 2011. Transcripts were imported into qualitative analysis software (Atlas.ti), and analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

We identified four categories related to the perceived impact of the current economic crisis: a) ¿Immigrant women have it harder now¿, b) ¿IPV and immigration resources are the first in line for cuts¿, c) ¿ Fewer staff means a less effective service¿ and d) ¿Equality and IPV policies are no longer a government priority¿. A cross-cutting theme emerged from these categories: immigrant women are triply affected; by IPV, by the crisis, and by structural violence.

Conclusion

The professionals interviewed felt that present resources in Spain are insufficient to meet the needs of immigrant women, and that the situation might worsen in the future.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Briones-Vozmediano et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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