Group Empowerment of Battered Women as a Tool for Violence Prevention

Intimate partner violence against women is a significant global health problem. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that a group intervention based on empowerment theory of Paolo Freire would be effective as a means to reduce the extent and prevent violence among women whose partners were violent toward them.

A randomized controlled trial (N=141) with two control groups (one individual psychotherapeutic treatment and the other a usual care group treatment) was conducted in a violence treatment center in the South of Israel The treatment protocol designed to empower battered women (EBW) was conducted with 12 groups over a period of two years. Assessments were made before, immediately following and at an 8 month follow up following the intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Women living in the south, who had approached the center for help as battered women
• Could fill out forms in Hebrew
• Aged 20 and above

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age younger than 20
• Not able to fill out forms in Hebrew
• Not living in the southern district of Israel