Intimate partner violence (IPV) poses a significant public health challenge, particularly affecting Black women, who represent 14% of the U.S. population yet account for 31% of IPV-related homicides. A study focused on African American women’s experiences with IPV and their interactions with health care and law enforcement. Utilizing critical ethnography and theories of Black feminism and intersectionality, researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with five participants from a domestic violence center in a Midwest city.

The participants, averaging 48 years old and from financially challenged areas, revealed themes such as “Calculating the Risk,” which encompassed subthemes like “Normalization of Violence” and “Escalation as a Measure of Worthiness of Support.” The findings highlight the challenges faced by these women, including intergenerational violence and difficulties in accessing support from health care and law enforcement systems.

The study emphasizes the need for nurses and health care providers to adopt person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally safe approaches when assisting African American women who are survivors of IPV. This research aims to improve understanding and support mechanisms for women navigating oppressive systems.