The Experiences of Stigma and Coping Mechanisms among Intimate Partner Violence Survivors in Kolfe Keranio Sub-city, Addis Ababa
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Date
2024-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health concern and a serious violation of human rights that refers to any behavior by current or ex-intimate partner resulting with any harm. IPV survivors face additional victimization when they reach out for help called stigma (mark of disgrace) that hinders their help seeking and recovery process. As there is limited empirical evidence documenting IPV related stigma in Ethiopia, the aim of this study was to investigate the experience of IPV stigma, its contributing factors and coping mechanisms among IPV survivors in Kolfe Keranio sub-city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study employed a mixed method cross-sectional study design. The study involved 221 IPV survivor women to investigate the experience of stigma using structured questionnaire and their coping mechanisms using semi-structured questionnaire. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency, mean, standard deviation, One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), T-test and Regression Analysis. The study revealed that 44.3% of IPV survivors experienced at least one type of IPV stigma. Perpetrator stigma was the most common IPV stigma faced by about 73% of IPV survivors, followed by Isolation (62.4%). The prevalence of anticipated stigma was 29.9% and Internalized IPV stigma was 38.5%. As to their abusive experience coping, 76% of them used help and support seeking as a coping strategy for their stigma experience. Age of IPV survivors, type of relationship with the abuser, duration of abuse and experiencing physical abuse have shown a significant mean difference on the level of stigma experience across different categories. In addition, different social, institutional, and cultural factors were identified affecting the level of stigma experience. In conclusion, IPV stigma was a major challenge faced by many IPV survivors.
Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence, IPV stigma, stigma types, coping strategies, stigma effect and help seeking.
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Keywords
Intimate Partner Violence, IPV stigma, stigma types, coping strategies, stigma effect and help seeking.