Development and Testing of a Community-Based Intervention to Address Intimate Partner Violence among Rohingya and Syrian Refugees: A Social Norms-Based Mental Health-Integrated Approach

Leah Emily James, Courtney Welton-Mitchell, Saja Michael, Fajar Santoadi, Sharifah Shakirah, Hasnah Hussin, Mohammed Anwar, Lama Kilzar and Alexander James
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Leah Emily James: Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Courtney Welton-Mitchell: Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
Saja Michael: ABAAD, Beirut, Lebanon
Fajar Santoadi: Tenaganita, Petaling Jaya 46000, Selangor, Malaysia
Sharifah Shakirah: Tenaganita, Petaling Jaya 46000, Selangor, Malaysia
Hasnah Hussin: Tenaganita, Petaling Jaya 46000, Selangor, Malaysia
Mohammed Anwar: Tenaganita, Petaling Jaya 46000, Selangor, Malaysia
Lama Kilzar: ABAAD, Beirut, Lebanon
Alexander James: Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-25

Abstract: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the leading form of gender-based violence globally and increases during times of conflict and displacement. To reduce IPV and encourage help-seeking, a two-phase community-based intervention was co-designed with Rohingya in Malaysia and Syrians in Lebanon. Three day workshops, utilizing a social norms-based mental health-integrated approach, were implemented for women and men in each country ( n = 148). Pre- to post-measures indicated reductions in beliefs about acceptability of violence and rigid gender norms, and improvements in mental health, functioning, coping, and self-efficacy for women and men following workshop participation. Workshop participation was also associated with increased help-seeking intent, for both mental health and IPV (victims and perpetrators). Workshops included community design of poster campaigns to address IPV, which were then tested in each setting using a randomized controlled trial in Malaysia ( n = 240) and a matched cluster comparison in Lebanon ( n = 260). Women in both settings found IPV less acceptable in the poster condition. Help-seeking preferences were also influenced by the poster for women and men in both countries. This participatory intervention research can provide a roadmap for use in other settings, emphasizing the value of community-generated solutions to IPV among displaced populations.

Keywords: refugees; social norms; mental health; intimate partner violence; intervention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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