“I Put Her in the Baby Stroller and Left”: The Escape Route From Violence to a Domestic Violence Shelter for Mothers and Children

This study looks at how mothers escaped violence and moved with their young children into a domestic violence shelter. It is based on 14 interviews analysed with a narrative thematic approach. The mothers' escapes were often planned, though how far ahead they planned varied. In many cases, the mothers' social network acted as a stepping-stone before they moved on to the shelter. The study also looked at mothers' considerations about their young children's well-being before or during the escape.

Key points

• Little is known about mothers' and children's escape from violence and its aftermath in secure accommodation, especially for children.
• The study is based on 14 interviews with mothers.
• The escape was often planned, but the planning horizon varied.
• In many cases the mothers' social network served as a stepping-stone before moving to a domestic violence shelter.
• The authors offer implications for policy and practice.

Limitations

The abstract does not state the country or setting, and the sample of 14 mothers is small. It reports mothers' accounts only, not the children's own views, and does not evaluate an intervention or measure outcomes.