More Support for Pregnant Women in Violent Relationships
A new research project involving researchers from the University of Southern Denmark aims to expand systematic screening for intimate partner violence to include pregnant women from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Currently, the Region of Southern Denmark is the only region in Denmark where all maternity units offer systematic screening for intimate partner violence. This service is presently available to Danish-speaking pregnant women, who are also offered early supportive interventions. The initiative will now be extended to include pregnant women from ethnic minority backgrounds, a group considered particularly vulnerable.
With funding from the Ministry for Gender Equality for the project STOP-Mino-Violence, clinicians from the Region of Southern Denmark, in collaboration with ethnic minority communities and researchers from the University of Southern Denmark, will develop systematic screening methods and interventions aimed at preventing violence among pregnant women from ethnic minority backgrounds across all maternity units in the region.
STOP-Mino-Violence builds on the previous STOP project, which developed a digital tool for systematic screening for violence during pregnancy and a support programme for pregnant women affected by violence. Findings from the STOP project revealed that 8.5% of all pregnant women screened positive for partner violence or experienced serious conflicts in their relationships. The project also showed that the support programme significantly improved the mental health of the affected women.
Addressing Specific Needs
-In the STOP-Mino-Violence project, we will gather information on the social, legal, and safety-related factors, as well as the specific circumstances surrounding intimate partner violence, that may affect pregnant women from ethnic minority backgrounds. This could include violence from extended family members or honour-based violence, explains project leader Karen Andreasen, regional coordinator for violence-related issues and PhD student in the cross-regional STOP project.
-This knowledge will allow us to develop targeted interventions, enabling us to provide the best possible support to these women, says Associate Professor Ditte Søndergaard Linde, who is also involved in both the STOP and STOP-Mino-Violence projects.
STOP-Mino-Violence is one of three new projects supported by the Ministry for Gender Equality as part of their action plan to combat partner violence and femicide. The project has been granted nearly 5 million DKK in funding.
STOP-Mino-Violence is a partnership between:
The Region of Southern Denmark, the University of Southern Denmark, Bydelsmødrene (Neighbourhood Mothers), Søstre Mod Vold (Sisters Against Violence), and the Interpreting Centre of Southern Denmark. Additionally, representatives from the target group, including Negin Jafaar, Jens Søndergaard, Ask Elklit, the Midwifery Programme, the Danish Women's Society, The Mary Foundation, and the RED Centre will participate in a professional advisory group to support the project.
Meet the researcher
Karen Andreasen, PhD student at the Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, and coordinator of the cross-regional STOP project as well as project leader for STOP-Mino-Violence.
Meet the researcher
Ditte Søndergaard Linde is an associate professor specialising in women's health and is involved in the STOP and STOP-Mino-Violence projects. She is affiliated with the Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark.