title: Community-level correlates of intimate partner violence against women globally: a systematic review.
abstract: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a problem facing women around the world, one that has implications for women's health and well-being. The relationship between communities and the occurrence of IPV is an expanding area of research. Although a large number of community characteristics have been examined in relation to IPV, the research as a whole lacks a coherent theoretical focus or perspective. In this systematic review, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of the evidence regarding the community-level correlates of IPV against women. In our review of peer-reviewed research published between January 1, 1990 and January 31, 2011, we identify key community-level correlates, detect gaps, and offer recommendations for future research. Recognizing a difference in approach between U.S. and non-U.S. based research and an over-reliance on a primarily urban, U.S.-based perspective on communities and IPV, we advocate for a global perspective that better reflects the social and economic fabric of communities around the world. Specifically, future research should focus on the most promising, but currently under-studied, community-level correlates of IPV against women, namely gender inequality, gender norms, and adapted measures of collective efficacy/social cohesion.
authors: Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. kevande@emory.edu
authors: Kristin E
authors: KE
authors: Vanderende
authors: Kathryn M
authors: KM
authors: Yount
authors: Michelle M
authors: MM
authors: Dynes
authors: Lynn M
authors: LM
authors: Sibley
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*