Accessing health services when living in women's refuge version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The lived experience of women accessing local health services, when accomodated in a woman's refuge.
IRAS ID
174623
Contact name
Eleanor Calderwood
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of Scotland
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 13 days
Research summary
"The Lived experience of women accessing local health services, when accommodated in a woman's refuge".
It is estimated that 1 in 4 women will experience domestic abuse over their lifetime resulting in a significant impact to their physical and mental wellbeing, as well as their social and financial standing. The impact on women’s health can be acute, including injuries sustained from physical assault or chronic, leading to depression, self-harming, chronic pain and loss of hearing or vision. Health services have a pivotal role to play in identifying abuse and promoting health through provision of support services for women and their children. This is an ethos supported by the Scottish Government.
Women may experience very high levels of abuse and control from their partner resulting in them moving to a Woman’s Aid refuge which provides a safe place to live away from the perpetrator. This often places them out with their current health service area, causing them to seek a new GP and other primary care services.
The researcher previously worked as a liaison health visitor in a woman’s refuge. At this time it was observed that access to services was uncoordinated and disorganised. There is very limited evidence published to indicate if this has changed therefore justifying the need for this research.
This study will interview eight women living in local refuges to ascertain their experience of accessing health services and aims to capture their personal thoughts, feelings and actions. The interviews will be conducted in the local Woman’s aid office and will last no longer than one hour. The study will inform future service planning and delivery, to ensure women and children living in refuge are offered appropriate health services to address the health issues previously mentioned and to improve quality of care.REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
15/WS/0084
Date of REC Opinion
4 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion