In this mixed methods study we examined the strategies rural women use to deal with intimate partner violence (IPV). The Intimate Partner Violence Strategies Index (IPVSI) was used to analyze results from a sample of 43 rural women who had left abusive partners.

Qualitative interviews then were conducted with a different sample of nine rural women to explore their perspectives about the findings and their impressions of the influence of rural culture and context on women's experiences of IPV. Findings exposed the degree to which social control acts as a key determinant of health for rural women exposed to IPV.