Abused immigrant Latina mothers' perspectives on the health and mental health needs of their children

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an under addressed health care concern for women and children. Children exposed to IPV can experience a variety of adverse effects and due to multiple barriers these children are difficult to identify by pediatric health care providers. Despite the growing concern over IPV, there is little research that centers on the perspectives and experiences of IPV exposed immigrant Latina women and their children seeking pediatric services. Due to this, health care service providers are left at a disadvantage on how to effectively intervene. The goal of this qualitative research study was to report on the experiences and perspective of a group of abused immigrant Latina women on the health and mental health care needs of their children as well as their utilization of pediatric services. Thirty-two immigrant Latina women participants with exposure to intimate partner violence and with a range of 1 to 4 children living at home participated in three focus group interviews. Participants were recruited from community-based organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. The prominent themes reported by this group of women included frequent use of emergency services to obtain health care for their children and a lack of time, attention or empathy experienced when interacting with pediatric health care providers. In addition, women reported difficulty accessing services due to long waiting periods, lack of child care, a mistrust of the health care system, and prioritizing their child's health care over theirs due to finances. Health care barriers and strained relationships with health care providers described by these women may reflect the high levels of psychological distress, feelings of isolation, helplessness, and lack of supportive relationships experienced by these women. Pediatric health care providers need to be prepared to facilitate supportive and empathic interactions with Latina women about their child's health while assessing for IPV exposure in the context of a supportive relationship.