Identifying violence among women patients attending family practices: the role of research in community change

Abstract

Violence against women has serious consequences. Although victims use health facilities more frequently than others, violence is still not recognized in most services and in the larger community. This study had three aims: (1) to estimate the prevalence of violence among women patients in primary care, (2) to evaluate the feasibility of asking all women about violence, and (3) to make violence visible, and thereby initiate a process of professional and community change on the issue of violence against women. The study was carried out in a small Italian town, at the initiative of a local family doctor. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among patients of six family practices and 444 women responded to a self-administrated questionnaire. Five per cent of respondents experienced physical or sexual violence in the last year, and 25% had experienced it in the past. Nineteen per cent had experienced psychological violence in the last 12 months. Risk factors for current violence were: younger age, being pregnant or with young children, being separated or divorced, or lack of stable employment. Most women were in favour of being asked about violence by their doctor.The study's results were disseminated in public meetings, with good press coverage. This resulted in a dramatic increase in the visibility of victims of violence, the development of a training course for health professionals, and the creation of the first women's group in the town. Along with advocacy work, the group has prepared a booklet on violence addressing women, and is now raising funds to start an 'anti-violence' telephone line. Overall, the study has become a tool for change within the health services and the community.

Use of emergency department services by women victims of violence in Lazio region, Italy

“…Risk factors of violence victims as reported in the literature are: youth, being pregnant or with young children, being separated or divorced, or lack of stable employment [23,24]. Other risk factors are a history of childhood violence, and alcohol and drug abuse in woman or partner [25].…”

How far does screening women for domestic (partner) violence in different health-care settings meet the UK National Screening Committee criteria for a screening programme? Systematic reviews of nine UK National Screening Committee criteria

“…102,107,115 Friedman and colleagues found that older patients were more in favor of routine physical abuse enquiry. 110 Age, however, did not influence the acceptability of routine enquiry for sexual abuse, although most surveys did not collect data on that issue.…”

“…107 Webster and colleagues Some women also stated that part of their fear and suspicion associated with disclosing partner violence and being screened arose from not being sure of the health provider's intentions in asking and what would happen if they told the provider. Some women felt that they were being screened because the health-care providers did not think they were caring for their children properly, and saw screening as a search for child neglect or abuse.…”

The Never-Ending Nightmare: Analysis of 435 Women Who Presented to the Emergency Department Due to Domestic Violence

“…Studies in the literature have proposed youth, pregnancy and absence of stable employment as the risk factors for women victims of violence 23,24 . In the current study, 30 women (6.9%) were pregnant, while 70.57% were employed.…”