Abstract
Although intimate violence partner rates have declined over the past decade, this health and social problem remains serious and significant. Latinas are especially impacted, as they face greater negative outcomes from intimate partner violence experiences. Research increasingly highlights the need to incorporate the unique narratives of racial and ethnic populations into education and intervention measures. Unfortunately, current strategies often neglect the social and cultural context of this population group. The influence of this vulnerability is especially evident in locations experiencing increasing violence rates such as Bushwick in northern Brooklyn of New York City. The present paper examines these vulnerabilities and focuses on intimate partner violence against females, particularly Latina females by their male partners, in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, New York. Also examined is the influence of Latina risk and protective factors contributing to the rate of violence and culturally competent approaches that may be suitable in combating rising rates.