From victimisation to perpetration: a qualitative exploration of the lived experiences and perceptions of incarcerated women convicted of intimate partner violence in Maputo, Mozambique – Psychiatry AI: Real-Time AI Scoping Review

AI Summary

Intergenerational and childhood exposure to family violence, including alcohol-related abuse, shaped women's coping, risk appraisal and later violent responses in intimate relationships.
Ongoing psychological and physical IPV led women to adopt coping strategies and self-defence that, in escalations, resulted in their criminalised perpetration.
Incarceration highlighted family disintegration, mistrust of prison psychological services and a clear demand for independent psychosocial support and sustained IPV prevention investment.

BMJ Open. 2026 Jun 4;16(6):e106913. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106913.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Numerous studies focus on women’s experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV), but there is a lack of qualitative studies focusing on women who, as victims, become perpetrators. The study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of incarcerated women convicted of IPV against their partner in Maputo, Mozambique.

DESIGN AND SETTING: A qualitative approach was utilised with females purposively sampled for one-on-one semi-structured interviews in the Maputo female prison setting. Data were analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA).

PARTICIPANTS: Nine females over the age of 18 convicted and incarcerated for perpetrating IPV against their violent partners.

FINDINGS: The analysis revealed three themes: Theme 1: Childhood exposure to violence, with subthemes: direct violence in childhood, witnessing violence in the family and the role of alcohol consumption in violence within the family. Theme 2: Living in a violent intimate relationship with subthemes: psychological violence, coping strategies as victims of IPV and use of self-defence during violent episodes. Theme 3: Consequences of IPV perpetration, with subthemes incarceration experience, mistrust of prison psychology services, disintegration of their families and plans for the future.

CONCLUSIONS: Mozambican women incarcerated for IPV described their lived experiences marked by family violence growing up and IPV in their relationships and how this may have shaped their coping strategies, risk appraisal and responses to threat. These factors were central to understanding the circumstances that preceded their offence. The women identified a current need for psychosocial services independent of prison staff. Sustained investment in IPV prevention and victim protection services is warranted to potentially reduce both prolonged victimisation and the risk of subsequent lethal violence.

PMID:42242741 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106913

Document this CPD