Effectiveness of Social Casework in Addressing Domestic Violence Among Slum-Dwelling Women in Dhaka City: a Qualitative Study on Intervention and Indigenization
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25128/2520-6230.26.1.6Keywords:
social casework, domestic violence, slum-dwelling women, intervention effectiveness, indigenizationAbstract
Domestic violence is a pervasive issue among slum-dwelling women in Dhaka, Bangladesh, exacerbated by poverty, gender inequality, and limited support systems. This qualitative study examines the effectiveness of social casework in supporting victims within urban slum contexts. Employing a case study approach, data were collected through 15 in-depth interviews, 2 focus group discussions in Korail and Kamrangirchar slum, and 5 key informant interviews with NGO officials, university faculty, and MSS social work students. Secondary data, including literature and reports, were used to validate findings. Findings demonstrate that indigenized social casework, applying the four stages study, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up effectively empowers women to express trauma, understand their rights, and adopt coping strategies. Interventions included counseling, safety planning, emotional support, legal referrals, and income-generating skills training. Core social work principles like acceptance, confidentiality, and self-determination-built trust and resilience, while regular follow-ups reduced re-victimization and fostered behavioral change. The study recommends culturally adapted social casework integrated into community-based organizations and public health systems, alongside community awareness initiatives and multi-agency collaboration. These findings are valuable for social work students, young researchers, casework practitioners, policymakers, urban planners, university faculties, and NGO/Government workers providing case-based support to marginalized women, offering evidence-based strategies to empower survivors and improve service delivery in low-resource urban settings.
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