Date of Award
Spring 6-12-2026
Document Type
Doctoral Research Paper
Degree Name
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Organizational Unit
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
First Advisor
Galena K. Rhoades
Second Advisor
John Holmberg
Third Advisor
Henrietta M. Pazos
Fourth Advisor
Carrie Landin
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Keywords
Intimate partner violence, Prevention, Cultural adaptation, Relationship education, Nicaragua, Feminist empowerment, Prevention science, Pregnancy, Rural public health
Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a concerning public health issue of global proportions, particularly within rural and under-resourced settings. Communities in these settings face elevated risk for relationship abuse, further compounded by barriers to access culturally responsive preventive intervention programming. This qualitative study investigated participant experiences, cultural adaptation, and implementation of the MotherWise program, a healthy relationship education intervention in rural Leon, Nicaragua. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with former and current program participants as well as the program facilitator following the initial program implementation. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify patterns related to participant experiences, the types of cultural adaptations made during implementation, and future cultural adaptations to be considered. Data suggested that similar to the original model, participants experienced changes in communication skills, conflict management ability, parenting practices, and degree of personal empowerment. The facilitator and participants described different aspects of cultural adaptations that were implemented during program delivery, these included the role of the facilitator as central to trust and support, expanded eligibility criteria, language modifications, and safety-focused implementation strategies. Also, participants named ongoing adaptation needs around confidentiality, adolescent parenting support, and program expansion into male partner engagement. Results highlight ways that culturally adapted health relationship education programs can function as multi-level prevention strategies within rural, high IPV risk settings.
Copyright Date
3-6-2026
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Rights Holder
Amanda Key Correa Love
Provenance
Received from author
File Format
application/pdf
Language
English (eng)
Extent
40 pgs
File Size
298 KB
Recommended Citation
Love, Amanda Key Correa, "MotherWise in Nicaragua: The Implementation of Culturally Adapted Relationship Education for Women During Pregnancy and Postpartum" (2026). Graduate School of Professional Psychology: Doctoral Papers and Masters Projects. 593.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/capstone_masters/593
Included in
Clinical and Medical Social Work Commons, Clinical Psychology Commons, Community Health and Preventive Medicine Commons, Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Commons, Social Psychology Commons, Women's Health Commons