Exploring the health care needs of women in abusive relationships in Japan

In Japan, although there is increasing development of policy related to the problem of intimate partner violence (IPV), little attention has been paid to the health issues of battered women. We explored battered women's experiences in health care settings in Japan. Six women participated in focus group and individual interviews. We found that participants' injuries, both emotional and physical, stemming from IPV, were trivialized by health care providers. Women also were given little time to talk with health care providers. We discuss implications for health care practice, research, and policy.