Barriers to services for Arab immigrant battered women in a Detroit suburb.

Author: Abu Ras, Wahiba M.

Source:
Journal of Social Work Research & Evaluation, Vol 4(1), Spr-Sum 2003: 49-66.
The author examines factors associated with barriers to service utilization by Arab immigrant women who are the victims of partner abuse. The study employed a cross-sectional survey during personal interviews with 67 Arab women who were victims of partner abuse. Survey questions elicited data on demographics, abuse experience, and barriers to utilizing services. Participants reported incidents of severe physical abuse (73%), injury (58.2%), and sexual abuse (40.3%). Complaints of excessive service costs were given by 92.5% of the participants; 65.6% reported a lack of interest in partner abuse on the part of physicians; 74.6% reported feelings of fear, 70.1% of shame, and 62.7% of embarrassment over seeking help from outside of their families; 92.5% admitted to a lack of knowledge about how existing service providers operate; 70.1% reported language barriers between themselves and service providers; and 74.6% reported a lack of informal support. Policy implications are discussed and recommendations are offered for improving service delivery to this particular population.