Scandinavian Journal of Public Health

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Request Reprints
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Kaye, D. K.
Right arrow Articles by Mirembe, F. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Kaye, D. K.
Right arrow Articles by Mirembe, F. M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 35, No. 2, 180-186 (2007)
DOI: 10.1080/14034940600858490

Escaping the triple trap: Coping strategies of pregnant adolescent survivors of domestic violence in Mulago hospital, Uganda

Dan K. Kaye

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda, Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, (IHCAR), Stockholm, Sweden, dankkaye{at}yahoo.com

Anna Mia Ekström

Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, (IHCAR), Stockholm, Sweden

Annika Johansson

Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institute, (IHCAR), Stockholm, Sweden

Grace Bantebya

Department of Women and Gender Studies, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

Florence M. Mirembe

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Makerere University Medical School, Kampala, Uganda

Objective: Why domestic violence survivors develop adverse outcomes following domestic violence during pregnancy is unclear, but may depend on how survivors cope with the stress of violence. The objective was to describe strategies pregnant adolescents employ in coping with domestic violence. Methods: This was a qualitative study involving 16 in-depth interviews with adolescent domestic violence survivors who attended the antenatal clinic in Mulago hospital, Kampala, Uganda, from January to May 2004. Theoretical sampling, necessitated by the emergent theory from sequential data collection and analysis, further provided diversity of experiences from adolescents of different ages, parity, pregnancy duration, and socioeconomic status until saturation was reached. Data were analyzed using grounded theory. Findings: Survivors described varied experiences of physical, sexual, and psychological violence. Coping strategies employed were analyzed as: Minimizing damage — decreasing impact and severity of violence, withdrawal — physical or social withdrawal, seeking help and retaliation (fighting back). Coping strategies were influenced by adolescence and pregnancy, and are explained in relation to theories of coping with stress. Conclusions: Coping strategies adopted by pregnant adolescent survivors range from problem-focused approaches to emotion-focused approaches. Coping strategies are influenced markedly by adolescence and pregnancy.

Key Words: Adolescents • coping strategies • domestic violence • pregnancy • stress • Uganda


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?