Intimate partner violence is highly prevalent in Asian region. It is largely committed by male against their female intimate partner. This is often associated with the region’s unique social and cultural norms which subordinate women throughout their lives. IPV is an ongoing concern in Bhutan. The country’s age-old traditions and customs are closely related to culture of silence among women experiencing IPV. This study examined women’s responses to intimate partner violence (IPV) in Bhutan. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore sensitising concepts such as how and when women recognised IPV and how they responded to it. Fifteen women who had sought supportive services at the institution `RENEW’ (Respect, Educate, Nurture, Empower Women) as a result of IPV participated in the interview. The Trans-theoretical model of behaviour change (TTM) was used as a theoretical framework to understand women’s cognitive, affective and behavioural change processes. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was used to identify the patterns of women’s responses. From the analysis, women’s experiences of IPV and their responses were located within the four stages of change, including contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. Women used nine traditional processes of change among which consciousness raising and helping relationships were critical and appeared across all four stages of change. This study provides important insights of Bhutanese women’s cognitive and behavioural responses to IPV. The appearance of consciousness raising and helping relationships across all the stages of change represents a potential opportunity for intervention to initiate and promote changes in women’s response to IPV in the early stages.

亲密伴侣暴力在亚洲地区非常普遍。它主要是由男性对他们的女性亲密伴侣犯下的。这通常与该地区独特的社会和文化规范有关，这些规范使女性终生处于从属地位。IPV 是不丹持续关注的问题。该国古老的传统和习俗与经历 IPV 的女性保持沉默的文化密切相关。本研究调查了不丹女性对亲密伴侣暴力 (IPV) 的反应。进行了半结构化访谈以探索敏感概念，例如女性如何以及何时识别 IPV 以及她们如何应对它。由于 IPV 的结果，15 名在“RENEW”（尊重、教育、培养、赋予妇女权力）机构寻求支持服务的妇女参加了采访。行为改变的跨理论模型（TTM）被用作理解女性认知、情感和行为改变过程的理论框架。采访被录音和转录。主题分析用于确定女性反应的模式。从分析来看，女性对 IPV 的体验及其反应位于思考、准备、行动和维持四个变化阶段。女性使用了九种传统的变革过程，其中提高意识和帮助关系至关重要，并且出现在所有四个变革阶段。本研究为不丹女性对 IPV 的认知和行为反应提供了重要见解。