Unsettling Common Sense Assumptions about Intimate Partner Violence in the NICU

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care
• Public Health
• Social Sciences

Background:

• NICU clinicians aim for family-centered care but face ethical challenges.
• Increasing evidence indicates NICU families may experience intimate partner violence (IPV).
• Limited research and training exist for NICU clinicians regarding IPV.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically analyze assumptions about IPV using a structural violence framework.
• To guide NICU clinicians in understanding and responding to IPV.
• To explore alternatives to traditional responses to IPV in the NICU.

Main Methods:

• Literature review utilizing a structural violence framework.
• Critical analysis of common assumptions regarding IPV.
• Examination of binaries (male-female, offender-victim), rescue narratives, physical safety prioritization, and mandatory reporting.

Main Results:

• Common assumptions about IPV, including overreliance on binaries and mandatory reporting, are questioned.
• A structural violence lens reveals complexities beyond individual actions.
• Re-evaluation of assumptions is necessary for effective clinical practice.

Conclusions:

• NICU clinicians need to move beyond simplistic or punitive responses to IPV.
• Transformative justice and reflexive engagement offer alternative frameworks for addressing IPV in NICU settings.
• Further training and research are essential to support NICU clinicians in addressing IPV effectively.