Intimate partner violence and barriers to mental health care for ethnically diverse populations of women

Trauma Violence Abuse. 2009 Oct;10(4):358-74. doi: 10.1177/1524838009339756. Epub 2009 Jul 28.

Abstract

Ethnically diverse populations of women, particularly survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), experience many barriers to mental health care. The search terms ''women'' and ''domestic violence or IPV'' and ''mental health care'' were used as a means to review the literature regarding barriers to mental health care and minority women. Abstracts chosen for further review included research studies with findings on women of one or more ethnic minority groups, potential barriers to accessing mental health care, and a nonexclusive focus on IPV. Fifty-five articles were selected for this review. Identified barriers included a variety of patient, provider, and health system/community factors. Attention to the barriers to mental health care for ethnically diverse survivors of IPV can help inform the development of more effective strategies for health care practice and policy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Battered Women / statistics & numerical data*
  • Communication Barriers*
  • Counseling / statistics & numerical data
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Mental Health / statistics & numerical data*
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / ethnology*
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spouse Abuse / ethnology*
  • Spouse Abuse / prevention & control
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Women's Health / ethnology*