Baragatti DY, Rolim ACA, de Castro CP, de Melo MC, Silva EM. [Critical pathway of women facing violence: an integrative reviewLa ruta crítica que recorren las mujeres en situación de violencia: revisión integradora].
Rev Panam Salud Publica 2019;
43:e34. [PMID:
31093258 PMCID:
PMC6438411 DOI:
10.26633/rpsp.2019.34]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective
To identify the critical pathway taken by women facing domestic violence in the world in their search for help.
Method
An integrative review was performed. LILACS, MEDLINE/ PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched until year 2017. The following were inclusion criteria: full text available online, Portuguese, Spanish, or English as language of publication, focus on the theme of interest, and answering the guiding question (Which critical path is taken by women facing domestic violence?).
Results
Thirty-eight articles published from 2001 to 2017 were included. Factors driving the search for help included economic empowerment and increased schooling, severity of the violence, and presence of structured and qualified support services. Factors inhibiting the search for help were immigrant status, cultural gender norms, feelings of guilt, fear, and shame, lack of confidence and little knowledge and/or limited availability of formal support services. Children as well as family and community support may function as both inhibitors or drivers of the search for help. The types of formal help most often sought are police and health care services, whereas family, community, and religious leadership provide informal support.
Conclusion
The critical pathway of women facing domestic violence in the world includes both formal and informal elements. Therefore, it is necessary to address sociocultural, community, and family issues so as to encourage women to break free from the violent environment and seek qualified formal support networks.
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