Subadra Panchanadeswaran

The Voices of Battered Women in India

This study endeavors to give voice to marginalized, understudied women who were abused in India. The study included 90 women who were abused who were seeking help to address violence perpetrated against them by their husbands. A semistructured interview was used to collect data on abuse characteristics, consequences of abuse, and help-seeking behavior. Findings reveal that the vast majority of participants experienced daily abuse that was extremely severe, with 70% reporting they lived under the threat of murder. More than 85% reported needing medical care for their injuries. Respondents in this study sought help from a range of sources; the most effective help was provided by counseling centers and women’s shelters. These findings have important implications for clinical practice and social policy.

Discrimination and Acculturative Stress among First-Generation Dominicans.

The present study examined the relationship between discriminatory experiences and acculturative stress levels among a sample of 283 Dominican immigrants. Findings from a linear regression analysis revealed that experiences of daily racial discrimination and major racist events were significant predictors of acculturative stress after controlling for demographics, acculturation, and transnationalism. Findings from this study have implications for interventions with this understudied and underserved population given the evidence of the negative effect of discriminatory experiences.

Predicting the Timing of Women's Departure From Abusive Relationships

The aim of this study was to investigate forces that affect the timing of womens exit from violent relationships with men. Abused women were recruited from posters in the community and battered womens shelters, interviewed, and followed up for 10 years. Data for this study are based on 100 women and were analyzed using event history analysis. Age, ethnicity, and alcohol consumption levels of both partners predicted the timing of womens termination of abusive relationships. An interaction effect showed that women who scored above the mean on an index of physical aggression and who never used shelter services had the longest trajectories of violence exposure; severely abused women without shelter use were more likely to stay. Our findings indicate that women who receive shelter services endure shorter periods of violence than women who do not access such services. Further outreach, especially to women experiencing high rates of physical aggression, is recommended.

Barriers to Help-Seeking Among Immigrant African Women Survivors of Partner Abuse: Listening to Women's Own Voices

Most studies in the United States documenting immigrant womens experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) have not included the perspectives of abused immigrant African women. This study utilized a phenomenological approach to explore help-seeking barriers and factors impacting decisions to leave an abusive relationship among 15 immigrant African women. Results from the qualitative analysis indicated that the culture of gender inequality and acceptance of gender violence were primary barriers. Self-blame, loyalty, concern for children, and lack of knowledge regarding abuse, services, and legal rights were additional barriers, along with structural factors such as finances, underemployment, and housing. Muslim African women also feared the additional stigma of being in polygamous relationships. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Gender differences in the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and genital symptoms in an urban setting in southern India.

Objectives: To examine gender differences in sexual behaviour, the prevalence of laboratory-detected sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and self-reported genital symptoms in urban Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Study design: The data were based on a cross-sectional survey (n = 1649) of residents from low-income communities in Chennai. Data were collected during community-wide health camps comprising physical examinations, interviews and laboratory testing between March and June 2001. Results: The population was young, sexually active, with a low prevalence of STI. The most commonly detected STI was Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2; 13.2%). Women had a higher prevalence of HSV2, but were more likely than men to be asymptomatic. Most of the self-reported genital symptoms could not be linked to a laboratory-detected STI. >10% of the cohort had a history of an ulcerative STI and >5% had an inflammatory STI. Conclusions: Given a high prevalence of HSV2 in the study population, interventions targeting HSV2 transmission may be particularly relevant for this population.

Intimate Partner Violence and Consistent Condom Use Among Drug-Using Heterosexual Women in New York City

The present study examined the associations of relationship factors, partner violence, relationship power, and condom-use related factors with condom use with a main male partner among drug-using women. Over two visits, 244 heterosexual drug-using women completed a cross-sectional survey. Multivariate logistic regression models indicated that women who expected positive outcomes and perceived lower condom-use barriers were more likely to report condom use with their intimate partners. The findings suggest that future interventions aiming at reducing HIV risk among drug-using women should focus on womens subjective appraisals of risks based on key relationship factors in addition to the occurrence of partner violence.

How Discrimination and Stress Affects Self-Esteem Among Dominican Immigrant Women: An Exploratory Study

Understanding the factors that contribute to the health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States is very important given the growing Latina population. Although researchers have investigated the health and mental health status among Latinas, the relationship between mental health and self-esteem has not been given a lot of attention. Given that self-esteem is a proxy for mental health status, investigations exploring the factors that can negatively affect self-esteem are needed. Therefore, the current study examined the influence of discrimination and stress on self-esteem among Dominican immigrant women. A cross-sectional study was undertaken among 235 immigrant Dominican women in New York City. Women (age 18–49 years) and in the United States for fewer than 20 years were more likely to report experiencing discrimination compared to women older than age 50 years and in the United States for more than 20 years. After controlling for age, time in the United States, educational level, and income, high levels of discrimination (−0.09, p < 0.01) and stress (−0.69, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with reduced self-esteem. Interventions with Latino/a populations, especially women, need to acknowledge their individual evaluations of the discriminatory and stressful experiences that negatively influence their self-esteem and subsequently their mental health status.

Using the Theory of Gender and Power to Examine Experiences of Partner Violence, Sexual Negotiation, and Risk of HIV/AIDS Among Economically Disadvantaged Women in Southern India

SUMMARY This article uses the Theory of Gender and Power to examine womens vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in order to: understand the vulnerability of female sex workers/poor women due to poverty and lack of educational resources; explore womens vulnerability in the context of client/partner violence, alcohol use, male partners high-risk behaviors, and womens lack of control in their intimate relationships; and explore the role of traditional heterosexual gender norms in the outcomes of sexual negotiation. Ethnographic data were collected from 32 women and 38 men in India as part of an ongoing National Institute of Mental Health study. Results highlighted womens vulnerability to HIV/AIDS stemming from partner violence, alcohol use, poverty, dangers of sex work environments, and tacit acceptance of cultural/gender norms.

Profiling Abusive Men Based on Women’s Self-Reports: Findings From a Sample of Urban Low-Income Minority Women

Understanding abusive behaviors among nonclinical samples of men is important to help women in the community understand the risks they may face. The purpose of the current study is to identify abusive profiles and subgroups of non-treatment-seeking men using women’s self reports. Of the sample of 611 women, 43% reported current abuse; chronicity of psychological aggression was the highest. Cluster analysis results revealed three different types of abusers. Findings provided support for recognizing batterer heterogeneity, especially based on women’s reports. Recommendations for future research and the limitations of using batterer typologies are discussed.

What’s technology got to do with it? Exploring the impact of mobile phones on female sex workers’ lives and livelihood in India

Abstract Technology has brought about substantial changes to the landscape of sex work globally. However, few studies have captured the holistic impact of mobile phones on the lives of female sex workers (FSWs) in India. In this exploratory study, 67 FSWs and 18 staff and leaders from local non-governmental organizations participated in in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Respondents strongly emphasized the innumerable ways in which mobile phones had changed the sex work environment in terms of client solicitation and managing long-term relationships with clients. Results revealed a complex picture of significant risks as well as gains resulting from the use of mobile phones. Participant narratives also highlighted the challenges posed by technology in terms of invasion of privacy, incidents of blackmail, and violence. FSWs’ personal agency was evidenced in innovative strategies to connect to social networks, stay safe, and maintain privacy. Results point to the need to adopt a nuanced stance regarding understanding the role of mobile phone technology in FSWs’ lives. There is an urgent need to develop on-going supportive phone-based networks in addition to examining the broader implications for the development of technology-based interventions for vulnerable populations.