Intimate partner violence and sexual violence in adulthood within rural, remote, and Northern communities in the US and Canada - a scoping review

Violence against women is an ongoing and pervasive public health issue. In North America, the rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence (SV), and gender-based violence (GBV) increase for those living in rural, remote and Northern (RRN) areas. These individuals face distinct challenges in accessing services; however, to date, no reviews have systematically summarized the scope of evidence on this topic. As a result, there is a need for more research that explores the lived and living experiences of IPV and SV among individuals marginalized by gender in RRN areas.

The research team conducted a scoping review following the framework outlined by Levac and colleagues to determine the existing evidence on the lived experience of SV and IPV among those marginalized by gender in RRN areas in the US and Canada. The databases Embase, PubMed (including Medline), APA PsycInfo, Web of Science, CINAHL, SocINDEX, ProQuest Dissertation and Theses Global, and LGBTQ+ Source were searched.

The search was conducted by a librarian. Following removal of duplicates 2329 records were screened for title and abstract eligibility. A total of 316 records were retrieved for full-text screening, and 33 records are included in this scoping review. This included 26 records focused on IPV, five on GBV, and two on SV.

Overall, the scoping review determined a paucity of research on SV in RRN areas of North America. Most records in RRN areas focus on IPV. There was discrepancy in the terminology used within manuscripts, and some did not include a definition of the concept being written about. It is important for all authors writing about IPV, GV, and SV to provide definitions to assist readers in analyzing the results. Additionally, the recruitment of participants from most research projects within this scoping review centered on services that provide care for those impacted by SV and IPV, which limits recruitment to those who have already sought out assistance. More research needs to be done to engage those who have not sought help, but who have experienced SV. Lastly, rates of IPV, SV, and GBV among Indigenous populations in Canada are higher than in all other populations, yet there was a gap in the literature reviewed regarding the experiences of individuals from this population in RRN areas.

By increasing the voice of victims/survivors in this area, there is potential to advocate for more services, as well as reduce stigma in these areas. Something must be done to decrease the rates of IPV and SV in RRN areas, and further research and knowledge development could be vital in advancing prevention efforts.