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Intimate Partner Violence and Brain Injury Screening
Shireen S Rajaram1, Peggy Reisher2, Matthew Garlinghouse1
1University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA.
Violence Against Women
|August 26, 2020
Summary
Intimate partner violence frequently involves head impacts or strangulation, increasing brain injury risk. Routine screening for traumatic brain injury (TBI) is crucial for survivors to access necessary neurorehabilitation services.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Public Health
- Traumatology
Background:
- Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue.
- Survivors of IPV are at increased risk for various forms of trauma, including head injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the rates of possible brain injury among survivors of intimate partner violence.
- To highlight the need for early detection and intervention for traumatic brain injuries in IPV survivors.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 171 women survivors of intimate partner violence.
- Data collection on head injury events (hitting, strangulation), frequency, and medical treatment received.
- Assessment of symptoms such as loss of consciousness or confusion.
Main Results:
- 91% of survivors reported being hit in the head or strangled.
- 31% reported experiencing these events more than six times.
- Only 35% of those experiencing head trauma received medical treatment.
- 64% reported loss of consciousness or periods of confusion.
Conclusions:
- A high prevalence of potential brain injuries exists among intimate partner violence survivors.
- There is a critical gap in medical treatment seeking for head injuries in this population.
- Routine screening for brain injury and timely neurorehabilitation referrals are recommended for IPV service organizations.
