Empowering Pregnant Women in Lima, Peru
Faculty Research Grant
In collaboration with Holy Cross’ El Instituto de la Familia and the Pontifical Catholic University of Perú, this research proposal seeks to adapt and evaluate a 5-session group therapy program for pregnant women who have recently experienced partner violence. Intimate partner violence is a highly prevalent phenomenon in Lima, with 51% of partnered women reporting physical or sexual abuse by a partner. As such, our research seeks to concretely address a pressing need to promote women’s integral human development in this context. If effective, this program stands to have significant relevance for social policy both locally and globally, as there are few programs serving this at-risk population and no programs that have been able to successfully demonstrate positive intergenerational effects on women and their infants in the context of a controlled trial.
