An exploratory study to understand help-seeking behaviors of abused South Asian ethnic minority women

Abstract

Intimate partner violence is a public health issue regardless of race and ethnicity. Emergency nurses always come across with abused women in their daily practice. The present exploratory study is to report the help-seeking behaviors and patterns for abused South Asian ethnic minority women admitted to the accident and emergency departments in two local hospitals in Hong Kong. By using content analysis via medical chart reviews of medical, nursing and social history notes for 37 abused South Asian ethnic minority women, we aim to provide the understanding on the women’s help-seeking behaviors and patterns, in which the information will be beneficial to emergency nurses to address the needs of South Asian ethnic minority women experiencing intimate partner violence and provide culturally competent care to them for maintaining safety and promoting better health outcomes.