Searching for help and information - Abused women speak out

One hundred and five women who were abused by their intimate partners descr ibed their experiences in searching for help and the outcome of their inter actions with different services that comprise the formal help network in a city with an international reputation for its coordinated response to woman abuse. In the aftermath of violent incidents, the women most frequently so ught protection, safe shelter, removal of their abusive partners, advice ab out managing their situations, a criminal charge against their partners, an d medical treatment for their injuries. The women tended to use help-seekin g pathways that led them first to the police or a hospital emergency depart ment. In turn, these services often directed them toward community agencies with a specific mandate to assist abused women. The abuse-specific agencie s then referred the women to a wide range of services in the community. Reg ardless of the type of assistance they were seeking, the women repeatedly m entioned the importance of the personal demeanor of service providers when they assessed the outcomes of their encounters with the formal help system. The findings are discussed with respect to designing community coordinatio n mechanisms that overcome common barriers to seeking help and information. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.