title: Care Seeking Patterns Among Women Who Have Experienced Gender-Based Violence in Afghanistan.
abstract: This study explored patterns of abuse and care seeking among women victims of gender-based violence (GBV) in Afghanistan. Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 Afghan women (M age = 19 years) living in a shelter for victims of GBV. Interviews were analyzed thematically. Participants reported experiencing multiple forms of abuse. The majority received medical treatment for abuse-related health concerns. However, less than half reported abuse to health care providers or were asked by health care providers about the context of their injuries. Strategies to improve health care responses to GBV are needed to ensure safety and support for Afghan women.
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sonya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stokes
authors.affiliation: University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA andreea.seritan@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Andreea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Seritan
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D057566:Self Report; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Afghanistan; gender-based violence; health care access