Open research questions in Intimate Partner and Family Violence

What the literature leaves open

• However, the relationship between maternal IPV exposure and breastfeeding outcomes remains uncertain, and existing findings are inconsistent and inconclusive.

  Association between perinatal intimate partner violence and breastfeeding outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis · 2026 · DOI

• These contradictory results highlight the presence of unknown variables, such as resilience or self- perceived HIV risk, that may mediate this relationship.

  Examining the Association Between Violence and PrEP Use Among Indigenous Gay and Bisexual Men in Guatemala · 2026 · DOI

• BackgroundDespite its high prevalence and established impact on womens health, the long-term biological effects of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) remain poorly understood.

  Intimate Partner Violence and Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review of Evidence and Gaps · 2026 · DOI

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74656-y Violence Against Women and Girls from a Human Rights Perspec- tive. A/HRC/38/47. https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/1641160?v= pdf&ln=en (2018). 51. Heise, L. What Works to Prevent Partner Violence? An Evidence Overview. https://strive.lshtm.ac.uk/resources/what-works- prevent-partner-violence-evidence-overview/ (2011). 52. Heise, L. Violence against women: an integrated, ecological fra- mework. Violence Women 4, 262–290 (1998). 53. Martín-Fernández, M., Gracia, E. & Lila, M. Psychological intimate partner violence against women in the European Union: a cross- national invariance study. BMC Public Health 19, 1739 (2019). 54. Hardesty, J. L. & Ogolsky, B. G. A socioecological perspective on intimate partner violence research: a decade in review. J. Marriage Fam. 82, 454–477 (2020). 55. Gracia, E., Marco, M., López-Quílez, A. & Lila, M. Chronic high risk of intimate partner violence against women in disadvantaged neigh- borhoods: an eight-year space-time analysis. Prev. Med. 148, 106550 (2021). 67. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Breaking the Cycle of Gender-based Violence: Translating Evidence into aaction for Victim/survivor-centred Governance (OECD Pub- lishing, 2023). 68. World Health Organization. Addressing Violence Against Women in Health and Multisectoral Policies: a Global Status Report (World Health Organization, 2021). 69. Falb, K. et al. Violence against women and girls research: leveraging gains across disciplines. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 122, e2404557122 (2025). 70. UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women Annual Report 2022 (UN Women, 2023). 71. WEAVE Collective. Weaving stories from the margins: a study on women’s movements against violence – global report. in WEAVE Global Report (WEAVE Collective, 2023). 72. UN Women. RESPECT Women: Preventing Violence Against Women – Implementation Package (UN Women, 2019). 56. Heise, L. & Fulu, E. What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women 73. Bochenkova, A., Buonanno, P. & Galletta, S. Fighting violence and Girls. State of the Field of Violence Against Women and Girls: What do We Know and What are the Knowledge Gaps.https://www. gov.uk/research-for-development-outputs/what-works-to-prevent- violence-against-women-and-girls-state-of-the-field-of-violence- against-women-and-girls-what-do-we-know-and-what-are-the- knowledge-gaps#citation (2014). 57. Fulu, E. et al. What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls. Evidence Review of Interventions to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/ 5a7e41f340f0b6230268a2f1/evidence-review-interventions-F. pdf (2014). 58. Arango, D. J., Morton, M., Gennari, F., Kiplesund, S., & Ellsberg, M. Interventions to Prevent or Reduce Violence Against Women And Girls: a Systematic Review of Reviews. https://openknowledge. worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/8ca6217e-d5d3-5b23- bfcd-2dbda9d1791b/content (2014). 59. Ellsberg, M. et al. Prevention of violence against women and girls: What does the evidence say? Lancet 385, 1555–1566 (2015). 60. Fulu, E. et al. What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls Evidence Reviews. Interventions to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls. https://www.whatworks.co.za/documents/ publications/35-global-evidence-reviews-paper-2-interventions- to-prevent-violence-against-women-and-girls-sep-2015/file (2015). Jewkes, R., Stern, E., & Ramsoomar, L. Preventing Violence Against Women and Girls. Community Activism Approaches to Shift Harmful Gender Attitudes, Roles and Social Norms: Evidence Review. https:// www.whatworks.co.za/documents/publications/357-social-norms- briefweb-28092019/file (2019). 61. 62. Jewkes, R. et al. Effective Design and Implementation Elements in Interventions to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls. https:// www.whatworks.co.za/documents/publications/377-effective- design-and-implementation-briefweb25-02-20/file (2020). 63. Kerr-Wilson, A. et al. A Rigorous Global Evidence Review of Inter- ventions to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls. https:// whatworks.co.za/documents/publications/374-evidence- reviewfweb/file (2020). 64. Ullman, C. et al. Interventions to prevent violence against women and girls globally: a global systematic review of reviews to update the RESPECT women framework. BMJ Public Health 3, e001126 (2025). 65. World Health Organization. RESPECT Women: Preventing Violence Against Women 2nd edn (World Health Organization, 2025). 66. Burke, E. et al. Is addressing violence against women prioritised in health policies? Findings from a WHO policies database. PLoS Glob. Public Health 4, e0002504 (2024). against women: the role of female political representation. J. Dev. Econ. 164, 103120 (2023).

  Is the elimination of violence against women a realistic goal for the near future? · 2026 · DOI

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74656-y 11. European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights. One in Three Women in the EU have Experienced Violence (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2024). 12. World Health Organization. Violence Against Women Prevalence 32. United Nations Development Programme. Human Development Report 2023/2024. https://hdr.undp.org/system/files/documents/ global-report-document/hdr2023-24reporten.pdf (2024). 33. European Institute for Gender Equality. European Union Gender Estimates, 2023: Global, Regional and National Prevalence Estimates for Intimate Partner Violence Against Women And Nonpartner Sexual Violence Against Women (World Health Organization, 2025). 13. WHO. Global and Regional Estimates Of Violence Against Women: Prevalence and Health Effects of Intimate Partner Violence and Nonpartner Sexual Violence (WHO, 2013). Equality Index 2024. https://eige.europa.eu/gender-equality-index/ 2024/EU (2024). 34. World Economic Forum. Global Gender Gap Report 2024. https:// www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2024/ in-full/benchmarking-gender-gaps-2024-2e5f5cd886/ (2024). 35. Gracia, E. & Merlo, J. Intimate partner violence against women and the Nordic paradox. Soc. Sci. Med 157, 27–30 (2016). 14. Devries, K. M. et al. The global prevalence of intimate partner vio- 36. Gracia, E., Martín-Fernández, M., Lila, M., Merlo, J. & Ivert, A. K. lence against women. Science 340, 1527–1528 (2013). 15. United Nations. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023. 2023: Special Edition. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/ 2023/ (2023). 16. United Nations. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2024/ (2024). 17. United Nations. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2025/ (2025). 18. Lawn, R. B. & Jakubowski, K. Violence against women and girls: a worsening global emergency that demands urgent action from governments. BMJ 386, q1791 (2024). 19. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. UN Women. Genderrelated Killings of Women and Girls (femicide/feminicide). Global Estimates of Female Intimate Partner/family Related Homicides in 2022 (UN Women, 2023). 20. Ma, N. et al. Prevalence and changes of intimate partner violence against women aged 15 to 49 years in 53 low-income and middleincome countries from 2000 to 2021: a secondary analysis of population-based surveys. Lancet Glob. Health 11, e1863–e1873 (2023). 21. Yount, K. M., Gram, L. & Peterman, A. Is intimate partner violence declining? It’s still an open question. Lancet Glob. Health 12, e559 (2024). 22. Bhona, F. M. C., Gebara, C. F. P. & Noto, A. R. Socioeconomic factors and intimate partner violence: a household survey. Trends Psychol. 27, 1–15 (2019). 23. Gunarathne, L., Bhowmik, J., Apputhurai, P. & Nedeljkovic, M.

  Is the elimination of violence against women a realistic goal for the near future? · 2026 · DOI

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74656-y curricula, community mobilization, and workshops with women and men to promote changes in attitudes and norms. In high-income countries, the approaches with the strongest evidence of violence reduction are interventions to support access to services, labor force interventions (such as employment policies, livelihood and employment training), home visitation and health worker outreach, parenting interventions, and psychological support interventions for children who experience violence or witness intimate partner violence. Several approaches showing promise in one setting have yet to be adapted and evaluated in the other, reflecting an uneven geography of research investment64,65. These strategies are not mutually exclusive, and RESPECT’s guiding principles emphasize that their impact is maximized when multiple approaches are combined across individual, relationship, community and societal levels, rather than implemented as stand-alone interventions65. The framework also stresses that, in the long term, the ultimate measure of prevention success is a reduction in the prevalence of different forms of VAW at the population level, the very benchmark against which current efforts are falling short65. Much of the necessary knowledge may already be available, and large-scale, evidence-based interventions should lead the way64,65. The challenge is how to embed them in coherent, long-term strategies that can reduce VAW at the population level, grounded in robust evidence on what works and in realistic strategies for building and sustaining political will, as well as how to evaluate whether such scaled implementation yields measurable population-level declines. Global analyses of health and multisectoral policies show that alignment with internationally agreed standards remains uneven and call on governments, including those in high-income settings, to revise policies and plans so that they reflect the strongest available evidence on what works to prevent and respond to VAW66–68. In other words, proven tools exist, but they are not yet deployed at the scale, intensity or coherence required to shift outcomes at population level in most settings. Without the political will of governments and concerted international action to fund and support their long-term implementation, no substantial advances should be expected. For this reason, governments, institutions, and other actors should also be held accountable18,69. In this context, the main constraint is not so much technical feasibility or insufficient resources, but rather a lack of political will. Highincome countries in particular are well placed to adopt and fund comprehensive, evidence-based prevention and response systems, yet policy analyses highlight that addressing VAW is often not treated as a strategic priority and that essential recommended services are still missing from national packages66–68.

  Is the elimination of violence against women a realistic goal for the near future? · 2026 · DOI

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74656-y This is not to diminish the relevance of policies aimed at reducing gender and socioeconomic inequalities, especially in regions where these inequities are more apparent, as such policies are important in themselves and are essential for the realization of fundamental human rights. However, the EU case suggests that advances in gender equality and social development do not automatically translate into substantial reductions in VAW prevalence. If some of the world’s most socioeconomically advanced and gender-equal societies are struggling to reduce VAW, it is difficult to be optimistic about rapid progress elsewhere without a clearer understanding of the barriers to effective prevention at scale. Identifying these barriers in high-income settings is therefore critical to informing global strategies and to assessing the feasibility of achieving Target 5.2 in the near future across low-, middleand high-income countries. Failure to prevent VAW among younger generations, and the emerging challenge of technologyfacilitated gender-based violence The 2024 EU survey reveals a lifetime prevalence of VAW already higher among the youngest age group (18–29) at 35% than the lifetime prevalence for women of all ages (30%). The estimated prevalence of IPV is higher among the youngest respondent group (35.8%) than for any other age group. The prevalence of physical violence or threats and/or sexual violence by people other than an intimate partner since the age of 15 is the highest among those aged 18–29 (25.6%). It is also striking that women in the youngest age group report higher rates of sexual harassment at work in their lifetime (41.6%) than other age groups9. Bearing in mind that the current EU survey shows similar age patterns in prevalence rates to those observed a decade ago10, these data suggest that VAW prevention is failing among younger generations in the EU, contrary to what would be expected after years of policy, public education and prevention initiatives in this highly developed region, despite its substantial resources and stated commitments42. The EU does not appear to be setting an example or leading the way in reducing the high prevalence of VAW among younger generations. In this respect, the EU faces challenges that are also evident elsewhere, as high levels of violence among young women are observed globally1,12,43. The latest WHO report shows that 23.3% (UI 21.5–25.7%) of ever-partnered adolescent girls aged 15–19 years have already experienced physical and/or sexual IPV at least once in their lifetime12. WHO reports acknowledge that the prevalence of VAW would be much higher if it included cases facilitated by digital and other new online technologies and tools1,12. Technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) is an umbrella concept that encompasses forms of violence facilitated, reinforced, and amplified by technology.

  Is the elimination of violence against women a realistic goal for the near future? · 2026 · DOI

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74656-y standards25–28. Implementation gaps are also documented through the Istanbul Convention’s independent monitoring mechanism (GREVIO), which assesses country compliance and has highlighted uneven prevention capacity, resourcing and coordination across Member States25. This combination of persistently high prevalence and mounting contestation may be a warning sign of wider democratic backsliding that, in turn, risks further obstructing effective prevention. High prevalence of VAW in countries with high income and gender equality: a major challenge for global preventive efforts The persistence of very high VAW prevalence in countries with high levels of social and economic development, including those with the highest levels of gender equality, is among the most puzzling challenges in the field. This is the elephant in the room: a major problem hidden in plain sight that tends to be ignored and rarely confronted by scholars and policymakers. However, addressing this issue is central to evaluating why current efforts have not produced significant population-level declines and what would be required to do so. As a high-income region with several Member States ranking among the most gender-equal in the world, the EU provides an informative case study29. This region has also taken important steps to prevent and combat VAW. As of January 2024, the Istanbul Convention has been signed by all EU Member States, and ratified by 22 Member States. While the Convention provides a comprehensive regional framework, it has also become a focal point of political contestation in some Member States, which has slowed or weakened its implementation27,30. Beyond the Convention, a range of legislative and policy measures to combat VAW have been adopted over the years, and ending gender-based violence is included among the European Commission’s priorities in its gender equality strategy. Most recently, the EU adopted Directive (EU) 2024/ 1385 on “combating violence against women and domestic violence”, the first EU-wide binding legal instrument specifically focused on these forms of violence31. The Directive establishes minimum standards on criminalization, victim protection and support, prevention, data collection and coordination, and requires Member States, among other things, to criminalize female genital mutilation, forced marriage and several forms of cyberviolence, as well as to ensure access to specialized, victim-centered services such as helplines, shelters and rape crisis or sexual assault referral centers31. Notably, during the legislative process, the proposal to include an EU-wide requirement to criminalize rape through a consent-based definition (aligned with the Istanbul Convention) was not retained, reflecting continuing institutional and political disagreement on this issue.

  Is the elimination of violence against women a realistic goal for the near future? · 2026 · DOI

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74656-y experiences of violence even under optimal conditions1,9,12. Poorly designed or implemented surveys would lead to even greater underestimation1. Concurrently, the EU survey emphasizes that survey data exhibits a substantially higher incidence of victimization compared to administrative statistics derived from formal reporting to police or services9. When sources differed in definitions or age coverage, comparability was prioritized over breadth, and implications for underestimation are explicitly flagged. Accordingly, the core prevalence indicators synthesized here refer primarily to women aged 15 years and older. This threshold is standard in the main global and regional monitoring frameworks. Importantly, high-quality prevalence measurement provides a baseline against which progress can be evaluated and trends interpreted. In this Perspective, we compare prevalence levels and changes over time where repeat surveys are available. We also triangulate EU estimates with WHO modeled global estimates. Finally, we assess the plausibility of achieving Target 5.2. In doing so, we discuss whether observed trajectories and current policy implementation patterns are consistent with the required magnitude of reduction by 2030, as well as emerging new challenges. Has progress in reducing VAW stagnated globally? Available evidence suggests that progress in reducing VAW has stagnated globally, regardless of income region. In the EU, two large-scale surveys on gender-based violence, published a decade apart in 2014 and 2024, offer insight into whether progress has been made9,10. The 2014 survey already showed that one in three women in the EU had been a victim of physical and/or sexual violence by a partner, a nonpartner or both since the age of 1510. As Sirpa Rautio, Director of the FRA, put it: “a decade later, we continue to witness the same shocking levels of violence that affect 1 in 3 women”11. The proportion of almost one in three women having experienced physical and/or sexual violence by any perpetrator in the EU is broadly consistent with the scale suggested by the latest WHO modeled prevalence estimates published in November 2025, drawing on surveys and studies conducted between 2000 and 202312. These 2023 estimates are presented as the most reliable to date, reflecting expanded data, improved methodology, and greater availability and quality of underlying survey evidence. According to WHO’s 2025 report12, the global lifetime prevalence of physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence is estimated at 30.4% (uncertainty interval [UI] 28.0–33.7%) among women aged 15 years and older, corresponding to approximately 840 million women. On this basis, the EU estimate of 30.7% sits at the upper end of current global levels.

  Is the elimination of violence against women a realistic goal for the near future? · 2026 · DOI

• https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-74656-y Is the elimination of violence against women a realistic goal for the near future?

  Is the elimination of violence against women a realistic goal for the near future? · 2026 · DOI

• There are several limitations of this study. First, the sample size is small and the sample is not representative, which might limit the validity of between-group comparison. All the participants were recruited from one of the researchers’ clients or the agencies that she collaborated with. Most cli- ents were referred to her because their children had some challenges at school. Helping children provided a legiti- mate excuse for most participants to visit the researcher’s office multiple times. We were not able to reach victims who were not our clients or who did not have a legiti- mate excuse to come out by themselves. Thus, the sample included only refugee women who were already receiving some services. Second, the interpreters’ language profi- ciency was not at equivalent levels among different par- ticipants. Some participants preferred to be helped by their own friends or family members (not including children), which could have influenced the way they shared their stories. Also, some of these friends or family members were not as fluent in English as the paraprofessionals that were hired for the other participants. In addition, we did not have enough funds or human resources to transcribe the original conversations in foreign languages (i.e., Karen and Arabic) to ensure accuracy and allow for verification of the translation. The language barrier may have affected our ability to accurately understand and interpret the results.

  Intimate Partner Violence Among Refugee Women Resettled in Nebraska: Voices from the Survivors · 2026 · DOI

• The study further finds that these behaviors constitute psychological violence as defined under Law Number 23 of 2004, although they are frequently normalized as private marital conflicts and therefore remain underreported and inadequately addressed by law enforcement and community institutions.

  Silent Treatment as Emotional Violence in Domestic Violence: A Study of Victims in Plakpak Village · 2026 · DOI

• Nigerian mental health professionals should consider integrating CBCT into couple therapy programs to address IPV and improve relationship satisfaction; train Nigerian therapists on CBCT techniques to enhance their skills in addressing couple-related issues; address economic stressors and provide financial counseling alongside CBCT to…

  Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Couple Therapy (CBCT) in Reducing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among Married Couples in Nigeria during Economic Hardship · 2026 · DOI

• There should be strengthening of capacities among service providers, institutions and communities so that appropriate information and services are rendered to victims of domestic violence. This study would help community leaders to be aware of domestic violence in their communities, resultantly exposing it by utilising visual art therapy in addition to other expressive channels. It is hoped that this study on domestic violence will inform policymakers and help them to highlight the forms of domestic violence common, the age bracket of people mostly affected, and the common perpetrators of domestic violence, thus leading to the formulation of new policies that can restrain perpetrators from committing more acts of domestic violence. The researcher recommends that the study findings be used to provide evidence-based information to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to restructure the way they deal with domestic violence and devise better ways of addressing violence in the contemporary era by incorporating visual art therapy as a communicative channel and a therapy. The study recommended that the findings of this study be used to provide evidence-based information to the Ministry of Gender Labour and Social Development to restructure the way they deal with violence and devise better ways of addressing the vice in the contemporary era. the study would help to strengthen Lastly, community-based support networks that integrate survivors’ voices into the conversation on domestic violence prevention and recovery. Ethical Considerations: The study prioritised ethical standards, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity of participants. All data collected was stored securely and only used for research purposes. Participants were informed of their rights and the potential emotional impact of discussing sensitive topics, with support offered throughout the study. The researcher ensured that all participants involved in the study, especially those providing narratives or personal stories, gave informed consent. The respondents were also informed about the purpose of the research, how their data would be used, and their right to withdraw at any time. Participants’ identities were protected by ensuring that personal information was securely stored and by being cautious when sharing narratives that could potentially identify individuals or families. REFERENCES Aliyeva, A. (2024). The role of zoonomic elements in French phraseology: A cultural perspective– an in-depth linguistic analysis. ECONOMIC SCIENCES, 52. Archer, S. H. (2025).

  Description of Causes of Familial Violence through Bird Symbol Painterly Narratives among People in Bushenyi District · 2026 · DOI

• The study has several limitations. Firstly, it was conducted with a small sample size of two within a specific geographic region of the UK. Future studies should expand to encompass broader demographics across various regions within the UK and internationally, aiming to ascertain if the identified themes could be identified across different populations. Future research projects may build into multiple case studies, building upon the insights explored from this study. Secondly, the data ana- lysed solely pertained to two single white individuals. There is a pressing need for further research that explores experiences across diverse groups, employing an inter- sectional perspective that considers various identities such as race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, ability status, and age (Singh et al., 2011). Douglas’s theory of ‘matter out of place’ primarily addresses societal norms and classifications, which may not fully capture the nuanced experiences of individuals from marginalised backgrounds. Therefore, the application of this framework might overlook how different identities interact with social norms, leading to varying experiences of domestic violence. Given the small sample size, it is not feasible to extrapolate probabilities regarding whether the data accurately reflect the broader population of DVA victims. Nonethe- less, this dual-participant case study offers a unique opportunity to explore deeply into the issue, providing rich insights into their lived experiences. Here are com- prehensive descriptions that facilitate a thorough analysis, utilising the advantages inherent in case study research, as highlighted by Geertz (1973). Additionally, while Douglas’s framework is helpful for understanding how society views victims, it may not fully explain the psychological aspects of abuse or the complicated emotions that victims experience, which are important for a complete understanding of domestic violence. It is worth noting that due to the scarcity of data and publications in this area, the depth of the data presented here holds significant importance.

  Before the Bruises: The Insidious Nature of Emotional and Financial Abuse in Heterosexual and Same-Sex Relationships · 2026 · DOI

• This paper uses a qualitative approach to complement and deepen the insights provided by existing quantitative research on this topic. By focusing on the experiences of adolescent boys, it offers a unique perspective on how young people transition into adulthood and how their environments shape their development. The inclusion of adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV (PLHIV), alongside HIV-negative peers, enhances the depth of analysis by capturing diverse lived experiences within a shared community context. This diversity strengthens the study’s transferability to similar settings where adolescents navigate overlapping structural vulnerabilities as in the context of Soweto. However, our study’s findings may not be widely generalizable beyond Soweto, the specific context of the study. In addition, interviews were conducted by multiple researchers (male and female), which although potentially enriching the data, may have brought variations in the way interviews were conducted, including how questions were asked or interpreted. Moreover, participants’ responses may have been affected by social desirability bias: while efforts were made to ensure confidentiality and build rapport, participants may still have tailored their responses to align with perceived expectations.

  ‘It Is Not My Business’: Adolescent Boys’ Experiences and Responses to Community Violence in Soweto, South Africa · 2026 · DOI

• ● Decriminalise women’s survival strategies, including informal sexual economies and mutual aid food ● networks, especially within urban poverty contexts. Implement trauma-informed and migrant-inclusive reproductive health services, ensuring contraception, abortion, and antenatal care are accessible without moral or legal gatekeeping. ● Develop Afrocentric, feminist-informed urban policies that prioritise reproductive justice, food sovereignty, and secure housing for women on the margins. ● Recognise informal caregiving and community organising as legitimate forms of labour and incorporate them into municipal and social welfare planning. ● Train frontline service providers (police, healthcare workers, social workers) to identify and interrupt institutional forms of violence and discrimination, especially against migrant and undocumented women.

  Cornered and criminalised: reproductive injustice, violence, and women’s survival strategies in Lorentzville, Johannesburg · 2026 · DOI

• Family-Level Barriers “The community here believes that if we talk openly about DV, we are trying to create fights and problems within families. This mindset makes it difficult to change their mentality.” (F/35, Community Health Coordinator). “Some elders in the village believe that a wife should obey her husband. When we talk about women’s rights, they respond, “Our culture does not allow such things.” (F/33, Community Health Promoter) “If a husband is abusing his wife, the ASHA cannot directly intervene or call the police, worrying it will backfire” (M/46, Public Health Program Manager). “I suggested an operation for a patient, and the next day, the ASHA told me the mother-in-law shouted at her because of my suggestion” (M/36, Public Health Program Manager). “People always surround her. If we want to talk to her alone, we tell them we need to speak with the mother about matters that only she can answer about the child. We first have to get permission from the mother-in-law before we can talk to the mother personally” (F/35, Community Health Coordinator) “There is nothing available to help us work on this. Medical doctors are limited to healthcare and cannot ask about private matters. All they can do is tell them how to take care of themselves. We also cannot ask them directly.

  Access to support services in prenatal and postnatal care settings for women facing domestic violence in rural India · 2026 · DOI

• Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) remains a silent pandemic disproportionately affecting female students in South African universities, yet it is underreported.

  Reframing silence: Ubuntu feminism and the underreporting of intimate partner violence among South African female students · 2026 · DOI

• As well as this, there is currently somewhat limited research on the treatment needs of IPV perpetrators with difficulties linked to their complex personality presentations.

  Exploring the treatment needs of high-risk male intimate partner violence perpetrators who screen into the offender personality disorder pathway · 2026 · DOI

• The following recommendations are made for social work practice in victim empowerment. Individual support: To strengthen social workers’ capabilities in rendering victim empowerment services through: • Advocating for the adoption of self-care and resilience practices. It is crucial to enable social workers to prioritise self-care and engage in behaviours that promote resilience in order to reduce the impact of vicarious trauma. • Regular debriefing services by internal and external partners to help neutralise trauma experiences. Given the centres' daily caseload, debriefing needs to be structured as a weekly activity for service implementers. • Peer review sessions, which should be incorporated into the daily routine to establish the emotional state of service implementers and provide emotional support; • Self-care programmes for implementers, which need to be prioritised and funded by the funding entities when designing grant activities; • Self-care strategies, which need to be incorporated into personal development for implementers. Because of the caring nature of professionals working with violence, self-care is considered one of the most important preventive strategies for dealing with compassion fatigue. Implementers could be capacitated to identify and address the source of stress. • Courses for employees on mindfulness meditation and offering wellness programmes that motivate social workers to integrate self-care practices into their daily routines, bolstering their resilience in dealing with vicarious trauma. Organisational support: Organisations can raise awareness of compassion fatigue, its causes, risk factors, and effective interventions, as many organisational managers are unaware of its nature and the potential for it to lead to burnout. Organisations can offer tools and training programmes focusing on mindfulness, stress management, and self-care practices. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 2026: 62(1) 122 Organisational support can also include creating a supportive environment. Trauma-informed workplaces recognise the influence of vicarious trauma and prioritise the welfare of social workers. Organisations can establish policies that support adaptability, offer mental health services, and foster a healthy equilibrium between work and personal life. To achieve this, managers, peers (colleagues, and inter-professional support can play a significant role. An increase in the number of staff who are skilled and trained to address IPV, along with a corresponding increase in the staff budget, would equip social workers to perform their core functions and responsibilities, thereby improving VE service delivery and establishing work environments that account for the impact of trauma.

  Vicarious traumatisation: Experiences of social workers working with intimate partner violence victims in victim empowerment programmes · 2026 · DOI

• This research is limited by several factors that need to be acknowledged. The first is that the sample size of six social workers limits generalisability. Although the data collected provides comprehensive information, it cannot be assumed to be representative of the entire population of social workers in the Ekurhuleni district, Gauteng province, or the entire country of South Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 2026: 62(1) 121 Africa. The geographic specificity of the research to a single district also limits the generalisability of the results, because the experiences of social workers elsewhere would vary significantly based on differences in infrastructure, resources, and communities. Furthermore, the data-collection method of self-reported information through semi-structured interviews is susceptible to social desirability bias and participants' underreporting of their emotional issues because of professional stigma or fear of disapproval. Among these limitations is also the lack of input from other stakeholders, such as programme managers or mental health professionals, whose views could have brought to light a broader picture of support mechanisms, or lack thereof, within victim empowerment programmes. Lastly, whereas the findings highlight the significance of organisational support, the study does not conduct an in-depth examination of the organisational setting, e.g., whether there is adequate training, debriefing practices, or structural obstacles that may hinder social workers' access to support services. RECOMMENDATIONS The following recommendations are made for social work practice in victim empowerment. Individual support: To strengthen social workers’ capabilities in rendering victim empowerment services through: • Advocating for the adoption of self-care and resilience practices. It is crucial to enable social workers to prioritise self-care and engage in behaviours that promote resilience in order to reduce the impact of vicarious trauma. • Regular debriefing services by internal and external partners to help neutralise trauma experiences. Given the centres' daily caseload, debriefing needs to be structured as a weekly activity for service implementers. • Peer review sessions, which should be incorporated into the daily routine to establish the emotional state of service implementers and provide emotional support; • Self-care programmes for implementers, which need to be prioritised and funded by the funding entities when designing grant activities; • Self-care strategies, which need to be incorporated into personal development for implementers. Because of the caring nature of professionals working with violence, self-care is considered one of the most important preventive strategies for dealing with compassion fatigue. Implementers could be capacitated to identify and address the source of stress.

  Vicarious traumatisation: Experiences of social workers working with intimate partner violence victims in victim empowerment programmes · 2026 · DOI

• ARTICLE IN PRESS ARTICLE IN PRESS ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT First, the number of participants in the study (n = 915) allows the collection of significant data. Subsequently, the current results can possibly be reflective of the general population, particularly that participants were from all areas of Lebanon. Having said that, the snowball sampling technique reduces the potential of obtaining generalizable results. Second, Lebanon is a collectivist developing country where religion and cultural traditions are widely adopted. For that reason, it could reduce the probability of women accurately reporting whether they experienced or are currently experiencing abuse, especially sexual. Third, the online mode of data collection and the use of self-report measures introduces the possibility of common method variance, as subjectivity may influence responses. Fourth, the higher number of unmarried women in our study compared to married women in Lebanon could be due to our study design and snowball sampling technique which could introduce selection or sampling bias. Only women who can read and respond to the Arabic language, and had access to the Internet were eligible to participate. Therefore, the results cannot be extrapolated to the whole population. Also, the current study is cross-sectional, which majorly limits the ability to establish temporal precedence and causality. In addition, although the binary model suggested a significant interaction between DV and sexual CA in relation to the presence of SI, this interaction was not retained in the ordinal severity analysis and should therefore be interpreted with caution. Finally, no information about psychopathology was collected, therefore, we could not identify participants who have pre-existing psychological disorders. Our ARTICLE IN PRESS ARTICLE IN PRESS ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT results could provide incentive for future studies to investigate these variables among clinical and non-clinical samples with diagnosed psychological disorders.

  The moderating effect of child abuse on the association between domestic violence and suicidal ideation/self-harm among Lebanese women · 2026 · DOI

• The cross-sectional design precludes establishing tempo- ral relationships between independent variables and OV. Recall bias may affect responses, as women were inter- viewed postpartum. Using health professionals as data collectors for a study on mistreatment by health profes- sionals may lead to social desirability bias and power differentials which might result underreporting of mis- treatment. Consequently, the true magnitude of obstetric violence is probably higher than the 75.3% reported here and future research should employ non-clinical data col- lectors with no affiliation to the study facilities to reduce this bias. The study was conducted in public hospitals in one city, limiting generalizability to private facilities or rural settings. This study did not assess provider-related factors such as job satisfaction, training history, work experience, or provider-to-client ratios, which may influ- ence the quality of maternity care and the occurrence of obstetric violence. Their omission means the observed associations may be confounded by unmeasured sys- temic factors (e.g., female-staffed wards having higher patient loads). Consequently, these findings should be interpreted as associative, not causal, and future research should include such variables to clarify mechanisms. The use of face-to-face interviews alone may not capture all dimensions of mistreatment. Additionally, while a multi- hospital sampling procedure was used, the sample size calculation and statistical analyses did not incorporate a design effect or adjust for potential clustering by hospital. This may lead to an underestimation of standard errors Desalegn et al. Maternal Health, Neonatology and Perinatology (2026) 12:18 Page 9 of 10 and confidence intervals that are narrower than they would be under a fully clustered design.

  Obstetric violence and associated factors among women who gave birth at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2024: a cross-sectional study · 2026 · DOI

• This study has some limitations that should be considered when interpreting the findings. It was conducted with ten participants from private sector organisations in Gauteng, which may limit the transferability. The perspectives presented are those of organisational representatives and may not fully reflect the real experiences of employees affected by GBV.

  Mobile apps as intervention tools for gender-based violence in private sector organisations in South Africa · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Intimate Partner and Family Violence

• Sex differences in aggression between heterosexual partners: A meta-analytic review. · Psychological Bulletin · 2000 · 1,712 citations
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• The efficacy of violence prediction: A meta-analytic comparison of nine risk assessment tools. · Psychological Bulletin · 2010 · 515 citations
• Social Support Protects against the Negative Effects of Partner Violence on Mental Health · Journal of Women s Health & Gender-Based Medicine · 2002 · 467 citations
• Immigrant Women and Domestic Violence · Gender & Society · 2002 · 414 citations
• A Systematic Qualitative Review of Risk and Protective Factors for Sexual Violence Perpetration · Trauma Violence & Abuse · 2012 · 402 citations
• The Intergenerational Transmission of Marital Aggression · Journal of Marriage and the Family · 1984 · 370 citations
• Women's Violence to Men in Intimate Relationships: Working on a Puzzle · The British Journal of Criminology · 2004 · 367 citations
• The Effect of Intimate Partner Violence on the Physical Health and Health-Related Behaviors of Women: A Systematic Review of the Literature · Trauma Violence & Abuse · 2021 · 365 citations
• Global Prevalence and Mental Health Outcomes of Intimate Partner Violence Among Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis · Trauma Violence & Abuse · 2023 · 353 citations

Most recent work

• Interventions for Perpetrators of Intimate Partner Violence: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews · Aggressive Behavior · 2026
• The Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Victims’ Mental, Physical, and Economic Well-Being: A Comprehensive Literature Review (2012–2022) · Partner Abuse · 2026
• A systematic review of infectious disease outbreaks and violence against women and girls: changes in magnitude, mechanisms and lessons for the future · BMJ Global Health · 2026
• The Effectiveness of Intervention with Intimate Partner Violence Perpetrators: An Umbrella Review · Journal of Family Violence · 2026
• Rethinking intimate partner violence risk: A Dyadic Socioecological Model of Adverse Relationship Pressures · Current Opinion in Psychology · 2026
• What police officers know about the risks posed by intimate partner violence-related strangulation and the need for medical-forensic exams · The Police Journal Theory Practice and Principles · 2026
• The unspoken bargain: household decision-making and its link to emotional violence against women in developing countries · Journal of Economic Studies · 2026
• An Analysis of State Laws Regarding First-Time Violations of Protective Orders for Intimate Partner Violence · Criminal Justice Policy Review · 2026
• Beyond physical violence: A machine learning framework for predicting IPV victimisation using multidimensional predictors · European Journal of Criminology · 2026
• Spousal Physical Violence and Women’s Psychological Distress in the Middle Ganga Plain, India: The Moderating Role of Husband’s Migration · Victims & Offenders · 2026

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