Experiences of Female Victims of Intimate Partner Violence Accessing Support Services in Denmark

This study examined how female victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Denmark experience access to support services within the social and healthcare systems. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 women. Although women faced significant barriers to assistance, they were aided by their social networks. Societal perceptions on IPV, especially psychological violence, and frontline personnel's lack of expertise impeded their help-seeking behavior. We propose an adapted version of the Levesque et al.'s (2013) framework of access to this context. Addressing the barriers requires upskilling frontline personnel, delineation of responsibilities, and improved cross-sector collaboration.