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Screening risks for intimate partner violence and primary care settings: implications for future abuse
Julie Ross1, Virginia Walther, Irwin Epstein
1Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1252, New York, NY 10029, USA. julier7725@msn.com
Social Work in Health Care
|May 20, 2004
Summary
Routine screening in primary care can identify women at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Early detection and intervention are crucial for at-risk populations, even when abuse is not suspected.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Social Work
- Women's Health
Background:
- Current intimate partner violence (IPV) interventions primarily focus on crisis response for injured survivors.
- There is limited knowledge regarding anticipatory and preventive strategies for women at risk of IPV.
- This gap hinders effective professional responses to IPV.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate social work interventions for early detection of IPV risk factors in primary care.
- To assess the feasibility and value of routine screening for IPV risk in primary care settings.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, practice-based research study was conducted in two hospital-based primary care practices.
- A self-administered questionnaire was used to screen 431 female patients for IPV risk factors during routine health visits.
Main Results:
- High rates of multiple IPV risk markers were found in an urban primary care population.
- Patients were willing to participate in routine screening.
- Screening identified at-risk individuals whose medical presentations did not typically indicate abuse.
Conclusions:
- Routine screening in primary care is effective for early identification of IPV risk.
- Primary care settings are suitable for implementing early intervention strategies for IPV.
- These findings support the value of proactive screening and intervention for at-risk populations.