Health Service Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence among Military Personnel and Veterans: A Framework and...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Military Health
• Violence Prevention

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant concern within military communities, affecting both active duty (AD) personnel and veterans.
• There is a critical need for effective initiatives to address IPV perpetration and victimisation in military-specific contexts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of major IPV intervention approaches and their evidence base within military and veteran-specific health services.
• To synthesize findings from existing studies on IPV interventions in this population.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was conducted using a systematic search of published studies on IPV interventions in military and veteran health services.
• Findings were narratively synthesized and analyzed using a framework distinguishing prevention, response, and recovery strategies.

Main Results:

• Nineteen studies, all from the U.S., were identified, with only three randomized trials.
• Interventions addressed both IPV perpetration and victimisation, including training, risk assessment, and psychosocial support.
• Most initiatives focused on response, with limited examples of prevention; benefits of interventions remain largely unclear.

Conclusions:

• Military and veteran-specific health services are crucial for addressing IPV.
• Key intervention components for IPV in military populations have been identified.
• The scarcity of empirical evidence necessitates targeted research to clarify intervention efficacy and benefits.