"These Questions Have Everything That Happens to me": Analysis of a Femicide Risk Assessment Tool for Abused Women in Brazil

• Authors: Dabney Evans, Emory University; Casey Xavier D Hall, Northwestern University; Raiza Wallace Guimaraes da Rocha, Federal University of Paraná; Sandra Marques Prado, House Brazilian Woman Curitiba; Marcos C Signorelli, Federal University of Paraná
• Journal Title: JOURNAL OF FAMILY VIOLENCE
• Volume: Volume 37, Number 4
• Publisher: SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS | 2021-09-03, Pages 547-557
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-021-00313-1
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Public Health
• Keywords: Social Sciences; Psychology, Clinical; Family Studies; Psychology; Femicide; IPV; VAW; Violence; Brazil; Risk assessment; DANGER ASSESSMENT; VALIDATION; VIOLENCE

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods triangulation study was to assess the face validity and comprehension of a femicide risk assessment tool, the Danger Assessment-Brazil (DA-Brazil) among women seeking care in a one stop center for abused women in Curitiba, Brazil. Our secondary aim was to assess professionals' perceptions of feasibility for using the DA-Brazil in the same setting. Method: Fifty-five women experiencing relationship violence completed the instrument and participated in cognitive interviews about their experience; professionals attending survivors were also interviewed. Results: The vast majority of women described the DA-Brazil instrument as being easy to comprehend (n = 41, 73.2%). Nearly half of participants (n = 26, 46.4%) had some kind of question regarding the DA-Brazil calendar, a tool to visualize abuse frequency and severity. Queries aligned with five categories: recollection of dates, scale, relationship status, terminology, and discomfort. Professionals reported that the DA-Brazil instrument would support referral decision-making. Conclusion: The overall face validity and comprehension of the DA-Brazil appears to be high. The majority of challenges were around the calendar activity. Professional perceptions of the DA-Brazil suggest a high degree of feasibility for its use in Brazilian healthcare settings. In order for the DA-Brazil to effectively be administered with facilitated support there is a need for training on the best use of the instrument. Accurate assessment of femicide risk is critical in a country like Brazil with high rates of femicide. The DA-Brazil provides a valid assessment of femicide risk and has the potential to trigger early intervention for those at risk.