Gaps in government recognition of the service needs of women who experience intimate partner violence: a comparative case study analysis of policies and implementation across eight countries

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a substantial health and human rights concern. Governmental policies to address IPV are well-documented, but most available evidence on implementation focuses on specific initiatives covering small groups, and little is known about IPV policy responses at a national level. We conducted a comparative case study analysis on eight countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Italy, South Africa, Spain, and Uganda) between January, 2024, and May, 2025. Drawing on police, health, and social sector administrative data, we assessed the extent to which governments recognise and respond to the need for services by women who have experienced IPV. We found varying levels of government response across countries. A qualitative analysis of the recognition gap-including access to care pathways and intersectoral coordination-identified ways to improve responses, including leveraging health sectors. The analysis moves us beyond counts of policy adoption and provides a novel approach in assessing responsiveness of services for women experiencing violence.

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Publication Details

Journal
The Lancet Global Health
Published
2026-02-16
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(25)00487-5
Primary Topic
Intimate Partner and Family Violence
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Gaps in government recognition of the service needs of women who experience intimate partner violence: a comparative case study analysis of policies and implementation across eight countries

Merike Blofield, Felícia Marie Knaul, Aislinn Delany, Mary Ellsberg et al.
The Lancet Global Health
Intimate Partner and Family Violence
article

Gaps in government recognition of the service needs of women who experience intimate partner violence: a comparative case study analysis of policies and implementation across eight countries

Merike Blofield, Felícia Marie Knaul, Aislinn Delany, Mary Ellsberg, Kristen Danforth, Isabella Vitral Pinto, Claudia Garcia Moreno, Deborah Malta, María Fernanda Ramírez González, Dianah Kagere Mugerwa, Flavia Bustreo, Padma Bhate-Deosthali, Paula Dias Bevilacqua, Diana Acuña, Nancy Madera, Johanna Pieper
article en

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a substantial health and human rights concern. Governmental policies to address IPV are well-documented, but most available evidence on implementation focuses on specific initiatives covering small groups, and little is known about IPV policy responses at a national level. We conducted a comparative case study analysis on eight countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Italy, South Africa, Spain, and Uganda) between January, 2024, and May, 2025. Drawing on police, health, and social sector administrative data, we assessed the extent to which governments recognise and respond to the need for services by women who have experienced IPV. We found varying levels of government response across countries. A qualitative analysis of the recognition gap-including access to care pathways and intersectoral coordination-identified ways to improve responses, including leveraging health sectors. The analysis moves us beyond counts of policy adoption and provides a novel approach in assessing responsiveness of services for women experiencing violence.

The Lancet Global HealthVol. 14(3)
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BR), Institute for Women's Policy Research (US), University of Cape Town (ZA), Universität Hamburg (DE), University of California, Los Angeles (US), German Institute for Global and Area Studies (DE), George Washington University (US), University of Washington (US), International Center for Research on Women (US), National University of General San Martín (AR), Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT), Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic (IT), Ministry of Health (UG), World Health Organization (CH), Fondation Botnar (CH), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (BR)
Gender equality
Openalex Percentile: Top 63%
Intimate Partner and Family Violence
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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