A Preliminary Exploration of Arab Older Immigrant and Refugee Women Experiencing Intimate Partner Violence in Canada

Experiences, Service Utilization, and Support Needs

Authors

  • Salma Almukhaini Dalhousie University , Sultan Qaboos University
  • Lori E. Weeks Dalhousie University
  • Lois A. Jackson Dalhousie University
  • Colleen MacQuarrie University of Prince Edward Island

Keywords:

Arab, Canada, intimate partner violence, older women, services

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a global public health concern affecting women across all societies, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or age. Beyond gender, other social identities—such as immigration status, race/ethnicity, and legal standing—intersect to increase women’s risk of IPV and shape their experiences of violence and access to services. With the rising number of immigrant and refugee women globally, coupled with an aging population, both age and immigration status create additional layers of vulnerability. This study aimed to explore the experiences, service utilization, and support needs of Arab older immigrant and refugee women who have experienced IPV in Canada. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with one older Arab immigrant woman with lived experience of IPV and three individuals who provided support to Arab older women in either paid or unpaid roles (N=4). Interviews were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Participants indicated that Arab older immigrant and refugee women underutilize available IPV services for multiple reasons, including stigma, lack of awareness about existing resources, fragmented services, and language barriers. A unique finding was a strong preference for services to be provided by female healthcare and social service providers, reflecting cultural and religious considerations. Trust and culturally sensitive care were identified as essential for supporting disclosure and access to services. To improve service utilization among Arab older immigrant women experiencing IPV, organizations must engage in targeted outreach and awareness campaigns, using linguistically and culturally appropriate strategies. Partnerships with Arab community leaders and organizations are critical for building trust and reducing stigma. Additionally, whenever possible, offering services through female providers should be prioritized to respect cultural and religious preferences and enhance women’s comfort and safety.

Author Biographies

  • Salma Almukhaini, Dalhousie University, Sultan Qaboos University

    Salma Almukhaini was doing her PhD during this study at Dalhousie University, Canada. She is from Oman, one of the Arab countries in the Middle East. She holds a Master’s degree in Adult-Gerontology Critical Care Trauma as a Clinical Nurse Specialist from the University of California, San Francisco. Her research interests include refugee and immigrant health and aging. She has worked as a research assistant, contributing to recruitment, data collection, analysis, and dissemination. Her current work focuses on the nursing workforce and advanced practice nursing.

  • Lori E. Weeks, Dalhousie University

    Lori E. Weeks is a Professor in the School of Nursing at Dalhousie University with a cross-appointment in Gender and Women’s Studies. Her expertise is in aging and family studies, using quantitative and qualitative methods to examine care and support services for older adults and their caregivers, and factors influencing seniors’ health. Her research focuses on vulnerable older adults in community and long-term care settings, with particular attention to elder abuse and intimate partner violence against older women. She is a member of the Abuse and Neglect of Older Adults Research Team in the Maritimes, affiliated with the Muriel McQueen Fergusson Centre for Family Violence Research at the University of New Brunswick.

  • Lois A. Jackson, Dalhousie University

    Lois A. Jackson, PhD, is a Professor of Health Promotion in the School of Health and Human Performance at Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia). Her research interests include the health and well-being of marginalized populations, rural women’s health, and access to health services. Much of her research involves collaborations with community-based organizations, and her current program of research is focused on understanding access to treatment services for people who use substances.

  • Colleen MacQuarrie, University of Prince Edward Island

    Colleen MacQuarrie is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Prince Edward Island. Her research draws on feminist liberation psychology and the social determinants of health to examine gender, health inequities, and violence against women. She has received over 40 research grants, many using community-based and participatory approaches. Her scholarship has significantly influenced abortion access and reproductive justice policy in Prince Edward Island through collaborative community action research. She is the founder of the PEI Abortion Rights Network, co-founder of PEI Abortion Access Now, and co-founder of the Reproductive Action and Abortion Research Network (RAARN). Her work centres on advocacy-informed research to improve women’s health and rights.

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Published

2026-01-22

Issue

Early View

Section

Original Research

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Copyright (c) 2026 Salma Almukhaini, Lori E. Weeks, Lois A. Jackson, Colleen MacQuarrie

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