[Gender-based violence against immigrant and Spanish women: scale of the problem, responses and current policies].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence of gender-based violence among immigrant and Spanish women. To describe their responses to this problem and the possible differences. To identify specific interventions to deal with gender-based violence in immigrant women in Spain.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional survey through a self-administered questionnaire in 10,202 women attending primary care in Spain (2006-2007). A content analysis was performed of the follow-up report of law 1/2004 of integral protection measures against gender violence sent by each Spanish region (2005) and the most recent regional laws and acts.


RESULTS
The prevalence of gender-based violence was 14.3% in Spanish women and 27.9% in immigrant women. The likelihood of gender-based violence was higher in immigrant (odds ratio adjusted: 2.06; 95% confidence interval: 1.61-2.64). Immigrant women more frequently reported that they had denounced their intimate partners and that they did not know how to manage the situation. Some Spanish regions have already started interventions to overcome access barriers to social and health services, but only three have provided data on the number of immigrant women who received economic and occupational help up to 2005.


CONCLUSIONS
Inequalities were observed in the prevalence of gender-based violence according to country of origin, with immigrant women being more frequently affected. Immigrant women more frequently denounce their intimate partners than Spanish women but this action does not guarantee effective results. Other specific interventions have been identified in some autonomous regions of Spain but these interventions need to be evaluated to ensure that they benefit immigrant women.
Vives-Cases
Carmen
C
Grupo de Investigación en Salud Pública, Universidad Alicante, Alicante, España; Ciber de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), España. carmen.vives@ua.es
Gil-González
Diana
D
Plazaola-Castaño
Juncal
J
Montero-Piñar
María Isabel
MI
Ruiz-Pérez
Isabel
I
Escribà-Agüir
Vicenta
V
Ortiz-Barreda
Gaby
G
Torrubiano-Domínguez
Jordi
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011640:Public Policy; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012944:Social Support; D012946:Social Welfare; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution; D055815:Young Adult