title: Barriers to domestic violence help seeking: implications for intervention.
abstract: Data were obtained from the Chicago Women's Health Risk Study, in which 491 abused women were interviewed in public health centers and a hospital. Responses of a subgroup of these women who did not seek help through the identified interventions are examined. Common themes emerge across the help-seeking interventions studied: individual thresholds for the seriousness of the violence, a perceived requirement to end the relationship, and certain specific barriers. The responses provide a glimpse into abused women's reasons for not seeking particular interventions. Implications for public health, mental health, domestic violence counseling agencies, and the police are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Chicago Mayor's Office on Domestic Violence.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fugate
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Landis
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Riordan
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naureckas
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Engel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002641:Chicago; D003144:Communication Barriers; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health