| dc.description.abstract | Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) continues to be a serious problem
worldwide. South Africa has a high prevalence of women experiencing IPV. Although
much research reports on the prevalence rates, risk factors, and consequences of IPV,
fewer studies report on how women deal with the experiences of IPV.
Objective: This systematic review of the empirical literature aimed to identify and
synthesize the best available evidence on women’s experiences of coping with IPV in
South Africa.
Methods: A four-level search and retrieval strategy using PRISMA and JBI guidelines
was conducted, which included critical appraisal, study selection, data extraction, and
data synthesis. Ten studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review.
They were assessed to meet a set threshold (7/10) based on the JBI Critical Appraisal
Checklist for Qualitative Research. All studies were conducted between 2010 and 2020,
conducted in South Africa, and used qualitative methodologies to accomplish the overall
aim of investigating IPV experiences of women and their responses to it.
Results: The total number of women included in the studies was 159. The data
extraction yielded 49 findings of which 47 were aggregated into 14 categories and
three themes: (1) help- and support-seeking coping, (2) emotional regulation coping,
and (3) problem avoidance and distraction coping. Help- and support-seeking coping
refers to women’s responses when they seek instrumental aid, advice, comfort, and/or
understanding from others. Emotional regulation includes responses of women in which
their emotions were expressed or regulated. Problem avoidance and distraction coping
represent responses of women in which they take efforts to avoid thinking about the
problem situation and rather reshift their focus.
Conclusion: Overall, this review found that a variety of coping responses are used by
South African women experiencing IPV. The findings point to the need for understanding
IPV and responses to it within a broader social context rather than just at the personal | en_US |
