Objective.
To identify the critical pathway taken by women facing domestic violence in the world in their search for help.
Method.
An integrative review was performed. LILACS, MEDLINE/ PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched until year 2017. The following were inclusion criteria: full text available online, Portuguese, Spanish, or English as language of publication, focus on the theme of interest, and answering the guiding question (Which critical path is taken by women facing domestic violence?).
Results.
Thirty-eight articles published from 2001 to 2017 were included. Factors driving the search for help included economic empowerment and increased schooling, severity of the violence, and presence of structured and qualified support services. Factors inhibiting the search for help were immigrant status, cultural gender norms, feelings of guilt, fear, and shame, lack of confidence and little knowledge and/or limited availability of formal support services. Children as well as family and community support may function as both inhibitors or drivers of the search for help. The types of formal help most often sought are police and health care services, whereas family, community, and religious leadership provide informal support.
Conclusion.
The critical pathway of women facing domestic violence in the world includes both formal and informal elements. Therefore, it is necessary to address sociocultural, community, and family issues so as to encourage women to break free from the violent environment and seek qualified formal support networks.