A Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis of Barriers and Facilitators of Help-Seeking Behaviors in South Asian Women Living in High-Income Countries who Have Experienced Domestic Violence: Perception of Domestic Violence Survivors and Service Providers

Abstract

There has been little research on domestic violence (DV) within ethnic minority communities in high-income countries. This study reports on the findings of a meta-ethnography that examined the barriers and facilitators of help-seeking behaviors in South Asian women living in high-income countries who have experienced DV to inform practice, understand the limits of the evidence, and identify research gaps. Qualitative studies were identified which were available in English by electronic databases. After an initial search, 2,465 articles were reviewed by title and abstract and 135 articles were reviewed for full text. Thirty-five papers were included for this review and were synthesized using meta-ethnography. Key findings included barriers and facilitators of help-seeking behaviors: (1) Socio-cultural norms to prohibit help-seeking behaviors, (2) Fear of negative consequences, (3) Negative aspects of immigration status, (4) Insufficient support from statutory, and voluntary agencies, (5) Safety strategies and facilitators for surviving. Although this review investigated the perceptions of two different populations (survivors and service providers) both groups had similar views about the barriers and facilitators of help-seeking behaviors. It is crucial for the government and non-government organizations to understand the barriers for women who are DV survivors to seek help from their organizations and also from South Asian ethnicities. The awareness and understanding of these barriers and facilitators may help support the development of interventions to encourage effective help-seeking amongst South Asian women affected by DV. Suggestions for research, practice, and policies are discussed.

Understanding self-harm and suicidal behaviours in South Asian communities in the UK: systematic review and meta-synthesis

“…45,46 A recent systematic review of South Asian women who have experienced domestic violence in highincome countries states that multilayer barriers to seeking help include insecure immigration status, limited governmental and third-sector support, and lack of financial support. 47 Our analysis has captured functions of self-harm that are aligned with previous systematic reviews. 48,49 Empirical literature on the functions of self-harm were reviewed by Klonsky, 49 and seven common function models were proposed.…”

“… 45 , 46 A recent systematic review of South Asian women who have experienced domestic violence in high-income countries states that multilayer barriers to seeking help include insecure immigration status, limited governmental and third-sector support, and lack of financial support. 47 …”

Training Informal Supporters to Improve Responses to Victim-Survivors of Domestic Violence and Abuse: A Systematic Review

“…While there was limited quantitative data on confidence and motivation, qualitative accounts suggest that training plays an important role in boosting confidence, as does wider evidence ( Sammut et al, 2021 ). Minimal data on the demographic composition of study samples mean that it is difficult to ascertain the impacts across gender, ethnicity, and age even though we know that these play an important role in mediating the provision and uptake of informal social support ( Bundock et al, 2020 ; Sultana et al, 2022 ).…”

“…This review re-affirms the importance and potential of informal social networks for supporting victim-survivors of DVA as part of a whole-system response ( Goodman, Banyard, et al, 2016 ). Informal networks provide unique opportunities to respond to victim-survivors, including groups who are unwilling/unable to disclose to formal services ( Femi-Ajao et al, 2020 ; Sultana et al, 2022 ). Training programs can help to empower these individuals, who likely perform a supporting role already (especially female friends, family, and colleagues, McKenzie et al, 2020 ) and so policy interventions should seek to invest in educational activities to meet the needs of these groups.…”

“…Such individuals and groups serve as “informal networks” ( Klein, 2012 ) that provide various forms of “informal social support” including practical assistance, emotional support, and/or resources ( Budde & Schene, 2004 ). Such support can be crucial for meeting the immediate and longer term needs of victim-survivors, especially for those who face difficulties accessing formal services (e.g., insecure immigration status), have poor experiences of statutory agencies (e.g., racial discrimination), or fear negative consequences of seeking help from formal agencies (e.g., retribution from perpetrator) ( Goodman, Epstein, et al, 2022 ; Sultana et al, 2022 ). In comparison to formal services, informal networks are uniquely placed to offer ongoing, mutual relationships of trust and care ( Goodman, Epstein, et al, 2022 ; McKenzie et al, 2020 ) with scope to provide different types of support that can be tailored to the victim-survivor and their personal situation ( Bellotti et al, 2021 ; Goodman, Banyard, et al, 2016 ).…”