Preventing intimate partner violence among refugee populations in the United States by promoting financial equity in couples

George Mason University, Fairfax VA

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY Exposure to war, persecution, and forced migration put FDPs at disproportionately high risk for IPV and mental health problems. Many FD women, including from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), arrive from countries where IPV is prevalent, and face increased risk before, during, and after displacement. Foreign- born women who experience IPV are more likely to be severely injured or killed, and report worse mental health than US-born women. Financial and social stressors, and persistent gender inequities in the US can exacerbate both IPV and poor mental health outcomes among FDPs. Yet, US-based programs primarily focus on connecting survivors to services once IPV occurs, overlooking strategic opportunities to prevent IPV and poor mental health among FDPs. In contrast to the US context, there is a rapidly evolving evidence-base of interventions developed globally that show promise in reducing IPV among FDPs. The EA$E (Economic And Social Empowerment) intervention (developed by IRC and MPI Wachter), has shown promise in reducing IPV in West Africa in research led by MPI Gupta. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), a global humanitarian organization, developed EA$E to address two underlying drivers of IPV in crisis settings--household financial strain and gender inequity in decision-making--innovatively diminishing risk factors associated with IPV. EA$E leads couples engaged in economic activities through an 8-session discussion series on household financial wellbeing, budgeting, spousal communication, and alternatives to violence. US-based programs for FDPs are in need of primary prevention strategies to address IPV in this health disparity population. Our overall objective is to advance the nascent science of primary IPV prevention among FDPs in the US. Our interdisciplinary team (public health, social work) is uniquely positioned to conduct the proposed study based on our combined expertise in IPV and research and practice with FDPs across settings and longstanding partnership with the IRC. Guided by the ADAPT-ITT framework, and Cascade Implementation Framework, we will develop EA$E-US, examine preliminary effectiveness on IPV, and intervention and intermediary outcomes, and asses implementation outcomes. This is aligned with the US National Plan to End GBV, which identifies refugees as a priority population.