Exploring Influencing Factors on Help-Seeking Behaviors for Intimate Partner Violence: Insights from Ethnic Women Survivors in Myanmar

Although the help-seeking behaviors of intimate partner violence survivors have been imperative, less evidence has been shown on ethnic women’s help-seeking behaviors. As such, this study aims to explore women survivors’ help-seeking behaviors in Kachin State, an ethnic area of Myanmar with an online in-depth interview approach. Twelve women survivors who were recruited by social workers, camp leaders, and volunteers participated in the study. Findings were analyzed by using the intimate partner violence help-seeking theory. In contrast to the extant literature, this study found an equal number of women survivors reached out to both formal and informal sources. Their help-seeking behaviors were influenced by their violence perception, cultural norms, lack of information on support services availability, the violence severity, and social support. Exposure to parental violence and women’s unique personal attributes had a negative impact on their decision to seek formal help. Results underscored the importance of sociocultural norms in an ethnic patriarchal society. As such, addressing deep-rooted patriarchal sociocultural norms, effective awareness raising, women’s empowerment, establishment of anti-domestic violence law, and multi-sectoral collaboration with men’s engagement and inclusion of cultural and religious leaders are urgently needed in ethnic communities to enhance formal help-seeking.