Characterizing Domestic Violence and Probable Brain Injury in Canadian South Asian Women: An Exploratory Survey

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent worldwide, with high rates in South Asia, increasing the risk of IPV and domestic violence (DV) in Canadian South Asian (SA) women. Currently, there is lack of research that examines IPV/DV-caused brain injury (BI) in this population. Materials and Methods: Our exploratory study was conducted via online questionnaires administered through Qualtrics and was available in English, Punjabi, and Hindi. We administered the 14-item South Asian Violence Screen questionnaire to determine, in a culturally appropriate manner, if physical, sexual, emotional, and in-law abuse was present. BI was assessed using a modified version of the Brain Injury Severity Assessment tool to determine self-reported symptoms consistent with BI, and psychosocial health outcomes were assessed using the General Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and International Trauma Questionnaire. Results: A total of 54 women were eligible and agreed to participating in the survey. Of these, 15 did not provide any further information; therefore, the total number of participants was 39. We found that 38.46% of participants experienced violence, and 73.33% from an intimate partner. Over 47% reported signs and symptoms of BI. Higher violence scores were correlated with greater anxiety. Conclusions: These are the first findings showcasing the occurrence of BI and the correlation between IPV, BI, and mental health in Canadian SA women. Further research is needed to establish prevalence across Canada and support creation of culturally informed interventions for health care providers and community workers.