Screening for coercive control with refugee women accessing settlement services

Background: Coercive control is gaining increasing recognition as a form of intimate partner violence (IPV). Refugee women in countries of settlement are vulnerable to experiencing controlling behaviour. Interventions that support identification of controlling behaviour are an important step in enabling help-seeking for refugee women and prevention of further violence. 

Methods: The Safety and Health After Arrival (SAHAR) study tested a culturally tailored IPV screening and response strategy for refugee women accessing Australian settlement services. All women accessing the study sites were asked about controlling behaviours using the ACTS screening tool, which also asks about actions causing fear, threats, and physical abuse. Findings reported here include consultations with a lived experience panel and services, screening results, focus group data and manager interviews. 

Results: Of 312 women asked the ACTS questions by caseworkers in four settlement services, 90 women (29%) gave responses indicating IPV with controlling behaviour being the most frequently reported (78/90). Qualitative data indicate that, following consideration of language and diverse understandings of controlling behaviour, settlement service caseworkers were able to identify experiences of harmful forms of control. Conversations about control between caseworkers and women were prompted, and awareness about non-physical coercion increased. 

Conclusion: Despite challenges due to differences in language, interpretation and cultural norms, this study found it feasible to enquire about controlling behaviour with refugee women accessing settlement services, along with other forms of IPV.