Gender-Based Violence in Adolescent Dating from a Medical Perspective: A Qualitative Study of the Needs Felt in Primary Healthcare Centres.

Isabel Cuadrado-Gordillo,Guadalupe Martín-Mora Parra

doi:10.3390/healthcare10010017

Isabel Cuadrado-Gordillo, Guadalupe Martín-Mora Parra

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10010017

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Journal: Healthcare	Publication Date: Dec 23, 2021
Citations: 4	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Extremadura

Abstract

Violence in adolescent dating has become a worrying public health problem. Research carried out on the issue has focused on identifying the causes of this phenomenon. However, difficulties have been found in designing and implementing effective prevention programs. In this context, primary healthcare physicians are one of the most important figures in screening for and detecting this phenomenon, since, in many cases, they are the first to have contact with the victims. The present study focuses on the qualitative analysis of a series of interviews carried out with 95 primary healthcare physicians in Extremadura, Spain. These interviews addressed various questions related to the theoretical and practical knowledge that the physicians have about the topic. The analysis of their responses reveals some of the strengths and weaknesses of the Spanish public health system, at the same time as pointing to what is needed to be able to improve comprehensive intervention for the victims, from the moment they arrive for their first consultation until they are treated and referred to different health specialists.

Highlights

Violence is a health problem that affects different kinds of interpersonal relationships and causes numerous consequences for the victims—physically, emotionally, and psychologically
It was found that the norms and protocols for comprehensive care in cases of gender violence were designed for the screening of adult couples but did not consider specific indicators of suspected gender abuse in adolescent couples
This study has explored the point of view of primary healthcare physicians from health centres of the public health system of Extremadura (Spain) about the phenomenon of gender-based violence in adolescent dating

Summary

Introduction

Violence is a health problem that affects different kinds of interpersonal relationships and causes numerous consequences for the victims—physically, emotionally, and psychologically. One of the most prevalent forms of violence in today’s society is violence in couple relationships, and this phenomenon can be found all over the world, at all socioeconomic and cultural levels, and in any ethnic group [1,2] In this sense, the prevalence of violence in adolescent dating relationships is high, even exceeding that of violence in adult couple relationships [3,4]. The prevalence of violence in adolescent dating relationships is high, even exceeding that of violence in adult couple relationships [3,4] Concern over this phenomenon has led studies over the last decade to focus on the search for predictive and explanatory indicators [5,6,7]. The prevention programs implemented seem to have had the effect of modifying adolescents’ attitudes towards gender-based violence as well as increasing their general knowledge about the phenomenon, there does not seem to be any reduction in their violent behaviour after participating in these programs [17]

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