Secondary Prevention of Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Disclosure of abuse, such as what happens with abuse assessment, was associated with the same reduction in violence and increase in safety behaviors as a nurse case management intervention. Simple assessment for abuse and offering of referrals has the potential to interrupt and prevent recurrence of IPV and associated trauma.

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

“…In this update we found one well-executed study 121 showing that an advocacy intervention may be effective for women who disclose current abuse as a result of screening in an antenatal clinic, and a fairly well-executed study in primary care public health clinics and women, infants and children clinics 123 showing no difference between intervention and control arms. The strongest evidence for advocacy-based interventions, emerging from the relatively well-executed trials of Sullivan and colleagues, is for an intensive advocacy programme for women leaving a refuge.…”

“…123 Project nurses received a 40-hour training programme based on the March of Dimes protocol prior to study implementation. Advocacy sought to empower the women by increasing independence and control through encouraging the use of a 15-item safety-promoting behaviour checklist, supplemented with supportive care and anticipatory guidance by a nurse and guided referrals tailored to the women's individual needs, such as job training.…”

“…Evidence from advocacy studies suggests that this form of intervention, particularly for women who have actively sought help from professional services, can reduce abuse, increase social support and quality of life, and lead to increased usage of safety behaviours and accessing of community resources. Five of the studies [121][122][123][124]130 were well-executed studies of good or fair design. Considering only these high-quality studies did not alter the overall findings, although two of the less well conducted studies 134,137 showed less effect of advocacy.…”

Toward an integrated approach in research on interpersonal violence : Conceptual and methodological challenges

“…For example, the American Medical Association encourages physicians to routinely enquire about the family violence history of their patients as a history of violence may affect a patient's health status and/or their ability to adhere to medical recommendations (American Medical Association, 2008). One argument for such an approach is that no patient history or specific symptoms have proved sensitive enough to detect experiences of violence (Muelleman, Lenaghan and Pakieser, 1998;McFarlane, Soeken and Wiist, 2000;Brokaw et al, 2002;McFarlane, Groff, O'Brien and Watson, 2006).…”

“…It has also been argued that when somebody asks questions about violence he or she forwards the idea that violence is not normal and that help is available. If a woman decides to disclose the violence, her experience can be validated and helpseeking is legitimized (McFarlane et al, 2006). This might all be true.…”