Nursing care of rural battered women.

Abstract

Rural battered women face enormous challenges when they attempt to end the abuse in their lives. Success depends on overcoming difficulties such as geographic isolation from sources of help; lack of accessible services for battered women and their children; limited opportunities for higher education, employment, and affordable housing for women; and strong allegiance to the land, kinship ties, and traditional gender roles. Through community education, routine assessment for abuse, responding in a helpful manner to women who disclose abuse, and forming links with existing programs for battered women and their children, nurses in rural areas can positively influence the health and safety of rural battered women.