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R E S E A R C H F O R D E V E L O P M E N T 2 0 1 1GillianMasonThe Search for Help: Experiences ofAbused Jamaican WomenThere is a known history of abuse in manyintimate relationships in Jamaica. However, it isonly in the last few decades that public efforts havebeen made to address this social problem. Part ofthese efforts focus on providing services to womenin abusive relationships (WARs). It is important fromvarious angles (e.g. psychological, economic, social) toidentify appropriate and effective services for thesewomen. Therefore it is imperative that policymakersas well as organisations that seek to provide servicesunderstand the nature of intimate partner violence(IPV) in Jamaica. This includes understanding howWARs seek help for the abuse and what type of helphas or has not worked for them. This book reportson a study which is the first to examine these topicsin depth, and which focused on understanding WARs’decision to seek help, to whom they turned for helpand what influenced those choices.82 83