The MuSeS project: a mixed methods study to increase understanding of the role of settlement and multicultural services in supporting migrant and refugee women experiencing violence in Australia

Abstract

BackgroundViolence against women is a major human rights and public health issue globally. The experience of violence affects women across Australia, including the large number of migrant and refugee women who permanently or temporarily resettle in the country. Many women who experience violence find it difficult to access support, and evidence suggests women who have resettled in Australia face additional barriers to violence-specific services. Previous research, however, indicates many migrant and refugee women experiencing violence have contact with, and may disclose violence to, settlement and multicultural services. There has been limited research documenting current knowledge of, and practices by, settlement and multicultural services in relation to violence. The MuSeS project will address this knowledge gap and identify strategies settlement and multicultural services can use to better support women experiencing violence.MethodsThis mixed methods research project will be conducted in six geographic communities across three Australian states: South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. The different migration and resettlement patterns seen in these jurisdictions will enable generation of data relevant to settings across the country. The project has been designed in consultation with partner organisations from the settlement and multicultural service sector to ensure the research addresses their concerns and priorities. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods will be used to generate rich data to inform strategies for settlement and multicultural services to better support women experiencing violence. These methods include an anonymous online survey of settlement and multicultural service providers to assess current knowledge, practices and professional development needs; in-depth interviews with settlement, multicultural and specialist (refugee) mental health service providers; in-depth interviews with refugee women; and focus group discussions with frontline workers and volunteers working with settlement and multicultural services.DiscussionFindings from this two-year research project will generate an in-depth understanding of the current and potential role of Australian settlement and multicultural services in supporting migrant and refugee women experiencing violence, and inform strategies to strengthen services’ capacity to appropriately respond. Given the prevalence of violence against women globally, findings will be useful for services engaging with migrant and refugee populations around the world.

Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnancy: An Umbrella Review

“…Characteristics of included systematic reviews and meta-analyses are shown in Table 2 . Only two reviews included global data [ 22 , 23 ], most of which were limited to a country or a group of countries, mainly from Asia [ 4 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] and Africa [ 4 , 26 , 27 , 29 , 30 ], followed by America [ 31 , 32 ], Europe [ 32 ], and Australia [ 32 ]. The number of studies included in the reviews giving information about IPV prevalence during pregnancy ranged from 2 [ 24 ] to 73 [ 23 ].…”

“…Some of the reviews also included cohort studies [ 4 , 24 , 25 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Reviews included studies giving information about IPV only at pregnancy [ 22 , 23 , 24 , 27 , 29 , 30 ], both during pregnancy or at postpartum [ 4 , 30 , 31 , 32 ], during pregnancy, or having a child 2 years old or younger [ 25 ] or at current pregnancy or any pregnancy [ 26 ].…”

“…Of the selected reviews, nine investigated prevalence of physical violence [ 4 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 ], nine psychological violence [ 4 , 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 ], ten sexual violence [ 4 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 30 , 31 ], and three any type of violence [ 26 , 29 , 32 ]. From the selected studies, four did not report IPV pregnancy during pregnancy as main outcome [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 32 ]. Five studies showed a summarized estimate of IPV during pregnancy [ 23 , 24 , 28 , 29 , 30 ].…”

Effect of micronutrient supplements on low-risk pregnancies in high-income countries: a systematic quantitative literature review

“…Similarly, cultural factors influencing the nutrition status in high-income countries have changed substantially over time, with increasing immigration and inevitable transference of sociocultural norms across international boundaries (75) . This acculturation has resulted in a diversity in baseline health status and food selection practices of pregnant populations in high-income countries (76)(77)(78) . Hence, the nutritional needs of pregnant women in contemporary high-income regions differ considerably from those of the cohorts detailed by existing studies.…”

Measuring deterioration of small-area housing environment: Construction of a multi-dimensional assessment index and validation in shared refugee accommodation

“…In the context of refugee migration, the influence of housing on health may be of particular importance. Housing conditions of asylum seekers with unsecure residence status and refugees who have been granted international protection (asylum seekers and refugees, ASR) are shaped by limited autonomy ( Au, Anandakumar, Preston, Ray, & Davis, 2019 ; Kotovicz, Getzin, & Vo, 2018 ), questions of residential instability, especially for children ( Goosen, Stronks, & Kunst, 2014 ), and the role of privacy in shared, institutionalized accommodation centers ( Hauge, Støa, & Denizou, 2017 ; Willems, Smet, & Heylighen, 2020 ). Further, ASR are usually assigned a place of residence based on administrative quota, which predominantly places them in more deprived districts in host countries ( Bozorgmehr, Razum, Szecsenyi, Maier, & Stock, 2017 ).…”