Understanding Perceptions of Intrafamily Violence from Members of Multiethnic Indigenous Communities in the Colombian Amazon

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2020ABSTRACT Indigenous groups in Latin America are social groups with less access to basic health and education services, making ethnic-racial status a cause of health inequities. Indigenous women have been historically marginalized as they have poorer reproductive health outcomes and possibly higher prevalence of violence against them. More information on Intrafamily Violence (IV), Violence Against Women (VAW) and in eliciting indigenous people’s perspectives on these types of violence is needed. This qualitative exploratory study aims to fill this literature gap by exploring perceptions of VAW within the IV concept among members of two multiethnic indigenous communities in Vaupés, Colombia through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) as well as In-Depth Interviews (IDIs). Our most notable findings were gender differing views, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of interculturality between indigenous people and western service providers (health, justice, and protection), as well as a perpetual macho culture affecting future generations in these communities. Loss of culture was the fundamental theme which encompassed every single perspective of these types of violence. From the social disorder to the differing perspectives between men and women, losing the indigenous culture is closely knit to intrafamily violence increase and inhibits the concept of living well, “Buen Vivir”. Indigenous women in this region would benefit from a co-designed organizational strengthening process between indigenous authorities and western institutions to further prevent the loss of culture and regain traditional practices that will mitigate IV/VAW and promote Buen Vivir