title: Grassroots efforts of Japanese women to promote services for abused women.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the personal experiences of six Japanese female volunteers who formed a support group to provide services for abused women. The interpretation of the women's stories also increased understanding about the process of forming and developing a grassroots organization to take needed action. The interpretive phenomenological approach guided the study. The findings illustrate that a group of community volunteers can identify and effectively address a significant social issue on their own initiative.
authors.affiliation: Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan. hihatash@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatashita
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirao
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Brykczynski
authors.forename: Elizabeth T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D018585:Battered Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D002321:Career Choice; D003142:Communication; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006379:Helping Behavior; D015277:Hotlines / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011340:Problem Solving; D016730:Program Development; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012940:Social Problems; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014838:Volunteers / Q000523:psychology*; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*