Addressing domestic violence through antenatal care in Sri Lanka's plantation estates

Contributions of public health midwives

Bibliographic Data

ID4599068
AuthorsJennifer J Infanti (0000-0001-8772-026X, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, corresponding author), Ragnhild Lund (0000-0001-5754-2386, Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Munas M Muzrif, Muzrif Munas (0000-0001-8903-9961, University of Sri Jayewardenepura), Berit Schei (0000-0001-7646-4985, Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Kumudu Wijewardena (University of Sri Jayewardenepura)
Year2015
Volume145
Pages35-43
Publication date2015-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Science & Medicine (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0277-9536 • E-ISSN: 1873-5347
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.09.037
PMID26448163
OpenAlexW2213306016
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited14

Domestic violence in pregnancy is a significant health concern for women around the world. Globally, much has been written about how the health sector can respond effectively and comprehensively to domestic violence during pregnancy via antenatal services. The evidence from low-income settings is, however, limited. Sri Lanka is internationally acknowledged as a model amongst low-income countries for its maternal and child health statistics. Yet, very little research has considered the perspectives and experiences of the key front line health providers for pregnant women in Sri Lanka, public health midwives (PHMs). We address this gap by consulting PHMs about their experiences identifying and responding to pregnant women affected by domestic violence in an underserved area: the tea estate sector of Badulla district. Over two months in late 2014, our interdisciplinary team of social scientists and medical doctors met with 31 estate PHMs for group interviews and a participatory workshop at health clinics across Badulla district. In the paper, we propose a modified livelihoods model to conceptualise the physical, social and symbolic assets, strategies and constraints that simultaneously enable and limit the effectiveness of community-based health care responses to domestic violence. Our findings also highlight conceptual and practical strategies identified by PHMs to ensure improvements in this complex landscape of care. Such strategies include estate-based counselling services; basic training in family counselling and mediation for PHMs; greater surveillance of abusive men's behaviours by male community leaders; and performance evaluation and incentives for work undertaken to respond to domestic violence. The study contributes to international discussions on the meanings, frameworks, and identities constructed at the local levels of health care delivery in the global challenge to end domestic violence. In turn, such knowledge adds to international debates on the roles and responsibilities of health care professionals in responding to and preventing domestic violence

Business · Domestic violence · Economic growth · Economics · Environmental health · Estate · Health care · Participatory action research · Poison control · Political science · Public health · Public relations · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Suicide prevention · Gender, Security, and Conflict · Global Maternal and Child Health · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Medicine · Nursing