Barriers to implementing diagnostic domestic violence screening

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Midwifery Practice
• Women's Health

Background:

• Routine domestic violence screening is recommended for pregnant women in the UK, Australia, USA, and Europe.
• This screening extends into the postnatal period for comprehensive maternal care.
• A consistent finding in literature is a deficit in midwife confidence regarding domestic violence screening implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the reasons behind the lack of confidence among midwives and students in performing domestic violence screening.
• To identify key professional issues impacting the implementation of domestic violence screening in midwifery.
• To highlight the implications of this confidence gap for women and their families.

Main Methods:

• A review of contemporary literature was conducted.
• Evidence focusing on midwifery practice and domestic violence screening was analyzed.
• Professional issues contributing to a lack of confidence were identified.

Main Results:

• Lack of self-confidence in implementing domestic violence screening is prevalent among midwives and students.
• Key contributing factors include time constraints during patient interactions.
• Inadequate midwifery education and midwives being past recipients of domestic violence were also identified as significant issues.

Conclusions:

• The identified lack of confidence among midwives poses a significant risk to the health of women and their families.
• Addressing issues in time allocation, education, and support for midwives is crucial for effective domestic violence screening.
• Improving midwife confidence is essential for successful universal screening programs.