Perspectives on Survivors of Violence Against Women Among Staff in Women's Shelters

Violence against women (VAW) or domestic violence (DV) is a serious violation of human rights and is a major global health issue. Nearly 1 in 3 women globally have been subjected to physical and sexual violence by an intimate partner. VAW is a considerable issue in Turkey, as evidenced by one study showing that 43.4% of Turkish women surveyed had experienced at least one type of violence in their lifetime. Healthcare professionals and other practitioners are often the first point of contact for VAW survivors and can play an essential role in the recognition and intervention process. This descriptive, cross-sectional study examines the perspectives of women shelter staff on survivors of VAW in Turkey, considering how demographic factors influence these staff members' views of VAW survivors. Seventy-nine women completed the Attitudes Toward Women Scale (AWS) revealing a significant association between the education levels of the participants and their AWS score. In addition, married women held more stigmatizing attitudes toward VAW survivors than single women. This study can serve as a valuable for researchers, professionals, and policymakers to learn and understand how culture and family values influence gender-based biases and tolerance levels.