Social support among women victims and perpetrators of IPV in Maputo City, Mozambique

2^nd International Conference on Forensic Research and Technology

October 07-09, 2013 Hampton Inn Tropicana, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Antonio Eugenio Zacarias

Posters: J Forensic Res

Abstract :

There is a lack of research about social support (attachment, integration, interaction) in Mozambique and sub-Saharan Africa among women victims and perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV) by type of abuse (psychological aggression, physical assault without/with injury, and sexual coercion). This research examines factors associated with social support (attachment, integration) in women victims and perpetrators of IPV over the 12 months prior to the research. Methods and materials: Data were collected between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008. They consist in consecutive cases of 1442 women aged 15-49 years-old visiting forensic services at Maputo Central Hospital (Maputo City, Mozambique) after abuse by an intimate partner. Interviews were conducted by trained female interviewers. Social support were analysed with bivariate and multivariate methods. Results: In bivariate analyses, victims and perpetrators of psychological aggression, physical assault and sexual coercion scored higher on social support than their unaffected counterparts. However, no significant differences were found among victims and perpetrators of physical assault with injury compared to their unaffected counterparts. Multiple regressions revealed that divorced/separated, widow, middle/high white-collar-worker, somatisation and control by/over partner were important factors in ?predicting? social support, whereas victimization/perpetration across types were not independently connected with social support. Conclusions: In the current study, victimization and perpetration was not important factors in ?predicting? social support, which is contrary to other findings. More research into the association between social support and IPV victimization/perpetration is warranted in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Mozambique.