Older Women as the Invisible Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from Two European Research Projects

Penhale, Bridget

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-65006-3_10

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…The association between health effects and socio-demographic characteristics of GBV victims revealed that victims who were older, had more children, and had no formal education were more likely to experience health effects. This may be due to the fact that older victims may have been exposed to GBV for a longer period of time, while victims with more children may have more responsibilities and less time to take care of their health [42][43][44][45].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender-based violence and its health risks on women in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Nguefack-Tsague,

Amani,

Dadjie

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Introduction: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a major public health problem that disproportionately affects women. In Cameroon, as well as other countries worldwide, GBV has immediate effects on women's health, with one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner, affecting their physical and reproductive health. The objective of this study was to determine the health risks associated with GBV among women in Yaoundé. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Yaoundé (Cameroon), from August to October 2022. Tests of associations were used to establish relationships between qualitative variables. Associations were further quantified using crude odds ratio (OR) for univariate analysis and adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for multivariate analysis with 95% confidence interval (CI). Variables with p-value˂0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 404 women aged 17 to 67 years were interviewed. Emotional violence was the most commonly reported violence (78.8%), followed by economic violence (56.9%), physical violence (45.8%) and sexual violence (33.7%). The main reasons for violence were jealousy (25.7%), insolence (19.3%) and the refusal to have sexual intercourse (16.3%). The most prevalent adverse health outcome was mental disorders (70,5%), followed by chronic physical trauma (45.8%), acute physical trauma (45.1%), gynaecological trauma (38.4%), and behavioral disorders (29.7%). Most victims reported adverse health outcomes (80.2%). Women who were victims of any kind of violence had a higher likelihood of experiencing health problems: physical violence [OR=34.9, CI(10.8-112.9), p<0.001]; sexual violence [OR=1.5, CI(0.9-2.7), p=0.11]; economic violence [OR=2.4, CI(1.4-3.9), p=0.001]; and emotional violence [OR=2.9, CI(1.7-4.9), p<0.001]. Using multiple binary logistic regression, only physical violence [aOR=15.4, CI(6.7-22.5), p=0.001] remained highly associated with an increased likelihood of having adverse health outcomes. Conclusion: This study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to address GBV, including improved reporting and documentation of cases, increased awareness among healthcare providers, the establishment of support networks for victims, primary and secondary prevention of GBV. It is essential that the Government of Cameroon, through the Ministries in charge of Health and Women's Empowerment, minimizes the health effects of GBV through early identification, monitoring, and treatment of GBV survivors by providing them with high-quality health care services.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gender-based violence and its health risks on women in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Nguefack-Tsague,

Amani,

Dadjie

et al. 2024

Preprint

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“…The impact of IPV on health appears to be cumulative, with repeated violence associated with greater chronic health issues in older women compared with younger groups ( Fisher et al, 2011 ; Sanz-Barbero et al, 2019 ; Stöckl & Penhale, 2014 ). Older women may have remained in abusive relationships longer due to generational beliefs about separation, a lack of access to any other financial options, fear of adult children's reactions, and a fear of leaving the family home ( Penhale & Porritt, 2010 ). They may also experience violence not only from partners but family members, such as adult children ( Penhale & Porritt, 2010 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Older women may have remained in abusive relationships longer due to generational beliefs about separation, a lack of access to any other financial options, fear of adult children's reactions, and a fear of leaving the family home ( Penhale & Porritt, 2010 ). They may also experience violence not only from partners but family members, such as adult children ( Penhale & Porritt, 2010 ). Age may possibly be a novel factor in IPV that increases the odds of long-standing physical impairment or disability due to prolonged exposure to violence, cooccurring family violence, or the cumulative effects of violence.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women reporting violence from a family member, in addition to a partner, had greater odds of a physical impairment or disability. Cooccurring or cumulative violence may lead to greater impacts on physical health of the victim ( Penhale & Porritt, 2010 ; Sanz-Barbero et al, 2019 ). Davies et al (2015) found that women who have experienced multiple abusive partners or a longer duration of violence had significantly worse health outcomes when compared to groups reporting fewer or shorter abusive relationships.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Long Shadow of Intimate Partner Violence: Associations of Mental and Physical Health With Employment, Housing, and Demographic Factors

Cordier

Chen

Chung

et al. 2023

Violence Against Women

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Ongoing health issues influence the postseparation lives of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV). This study identified associations between health following IPV and demographic, housing, employment, and social participation factors. Survivors of IPV in Australia were surveyed. Logistic regression assessed factors of interest with physical and mental health conditions. Six hundred and fifty-eight women participated. Physical health issues were associated with reduced skills and confidence in employment. A mental health diagnosis was associated with women not working as desired and lower incomes. Screening for health impacts and longer-term responses to women could reduce the long shadow of IPV impacts.

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“…One of the fundamental schisms in this field is how work on elder abuse and domestic abuse has evolved; they occupy parallel but largely separate domains. Penhale and Porrit (2010) consider that 'research on elder abuse has focused on age and largely neglected considerations of gender, whilst research from within the sphere of domestic violence has not fully considered aspects relating to age' (p. 11). Scott et al, (2004) exposes the role played by power; they observe that while domestic abuse is often viewed as a gendered abuse of power, amongst older women it is routinely treated as a 'sub-set' of elder abuse.…”

Section: How Is Domestic Abuse Of Older Women Conceptualised?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Older women and domestic abuse: through a glass darkly

Milne

2023

JAP

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Purpose This paper aims to offer a profile of domestic abuse of older women and its impact on their health and well-being; explore some of the conceptual tensions that exist in this field; and discuss current policy and practice responses to this group of victim-survivors. Design/methodology/approach It is a review paper drawing on material from a range of sources; it has policy, practice and research implications. Findings Although there is growing recognition that older women are victims of domestic abuse, it tends to be regarded as a “younger women’s issue” and to be subsumed under the umbrella of elder abuse. This not only removes the gendered element, but it also uncouples it from the lifecourse where, for many, its roots lie. It also tends to foreground “old age” as the primary dimension of risk. There is a tension between the justice-oriented approach of the domestic abuse system and the welfarist approach that imbues the safeguarding system. There is a need for integration between the two systems. Also, for the health and care system to be more alert to the needs of older women at risk, we need to achieve a more effective balance between protection and justice, accord a greater level of agency to older victim-survivors and ensure they have access to domestic abuse law, policy and appropriate support services. Research limitations/implications More research is needed with older victim-survivors: listening to their lived experiences, coping strategies and pathways out of abuse. The issue also needs to be more visible. Practical implications Developing appropriate domestic abuse services for older women is critical. Practice lessons can be learnt too: especially greater integration of the safeguarding system with the domestic abuse system. Training is needed too for frontline health and social care staff about the distinctive nature of domestic abuse of older women. Social implications Domestic abuse of older women needs to be spoken about and made more visible in society and inside services, including older people’s third sector services. Originality/value This paper adopts a critical lens and makes a number of new arguments.

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Older Women as the Invisible Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: Findings from Two European Research Projects

Cited by 6 publications

References 27 publications

Gender-based violence and its health risks on women in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Gender-based violence and its health risks on women in Yaoundé, Cameroon

The Long Shadow of Intimate Partner Violence: Associations of Mental and Physical Health With Employment, Housing, and Demographic Factors

Older women and domestic abuse: through a glass darkly

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