Intimate Partner Violence Cases Research Articles

Legal Decisions Based on Sex, Sexual Orientation, Race, and Ethnicity: A Systematic Review of Intimate Partner Violence Research

As a part of the Partner Abuse State of Knowledge project, this systematic review provides an update on intimate partner violence (IPV) legal decision-making research from the last 10 years. We specifically reviewed how sex/gender, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity influence police, prosecutor, and adjudicator perceptions and decision-making in IPV cases. We systematically reviewed a total of 91 study-eligible articles and ascertained themes within the literature. Most notably, the research is mixed and findings were inconsistent and depended on the research focus and methodology. The most robust trend indicates White, heterosexual female victims are constructed as those most worthy of legal pursuit. This pattern was apparent in decisions to arrest, prosecute, sentence, and grant protective orders. Furthermore, some studies indicate individuals from historically marginalized groups (i.e., people of color and folx in the lesbian, gay, and bisexual community) or female-to-male-perpetrated IPV are disparately ignored by the legal system; others observe more aggressive legal action in these populations. We discuss these seemingly contradictory responses and pose ideas for future research.

Law Enforcement Response to Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review of Literature From 2012 to 2023

Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, many states enacted legislation criminalizing most forms of intimate partner violence (IPV) and necessitating law enforcement to shift to treat IPV as a potentially criminal, and thus arrestable, offense. These legislative changes include mandatory arrest laws (i.e., laws that require police to make an arrest if they believe there is a probable cause that a crime occurred) and dual-arrest policies (e.g., laws that require both individuals involved in the IPV incident to be arrested if law enforcement cannot determine who is primarily at fault). In 2012,Partner Abusepublished a comprehensive review, the Partner Abuse State of Knowledge project, which included consideration of how state law and law enforcement policies impact IPV. The current systematic review serves to update the literature published from 2012 to 2023 regarding law enforcement response to IPV cases. A review of 27 papers identified the following themes: characteristics of the offense, IPV dyad demographic characteristics, officer-specific characteristics, and diversion programs/alternatives to arrest. Consistent with prior research, this review suggests the IPV victim’s sex may serve as a salient factor with law enforcement responding more punitively in cases involving female victims. However, research regarding other extralegal factors (e.g., IPV dyad race) generally produced mixed results. Finally, this review highlights alternatives to arrest, like citations and diversion programs that offer promising avenues for future exploration.

Social Determinants of Health Associated with Intimate Partner Violence in an Urban Obstetric Population.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is pervasive and can lead to severe health consequences. In the US, 25% of women have experienced sexual violence, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner. However, less is known about the frequency and risk factors for IPV in the obstetric population. Nested case-control study from a prospective cohort study of 606 parturients at a single academic medical center from 2011-2022. Structured questionnaires were administered randomly chosen, consented patients during their postpartum hospital stay to gather information on social determinants of health (SDoH) and birth outcomes. The case group included participants who reported forced sex causing pregnancy, verbal abuse before or during pregnancy, or physical abuse during pregnancy. The control group reported none of these. Odds ratios were used to quantify the relationship between IPV and maternal sociodemographic characteristics, pregnancy factors, and levels of perceived support and discrimination. Of 606 study participants, 568 (94%) provided data on IPV. Of those, 20.4% reported IPV (case) and 80.6% reported no IPV (control). 74.6% of the study population was enrolled pre-pandemic. Unmarried status, low income, food insecurity, housing insecurity, substance use during pregnancy, higher gravidity, unintended pregnancy, low social support, and racial and gender discrimination were all significantly associated with IPV; maternal race and pregnancy during the COVID-19 pandemic were not. IPV is common, reported by 1 in 5 parturients in our population. Although maternal race was not associated with IPV in this perinatal cohort, experiencing racism was. Initiatives aimed to address SDoH such as substance use, family planning, and access to food and housing remain key opportunities to support pregnant patients experiencing IPV. The connection between perceived discrimination and IPV found here highlight the importance of addressing the influence of racism and gender-based discrimination on adverse birth outcomes in the US.

A university-based counseling program for perpetrators of family violence in Greece: initial evidence

Abstract Penal mediation is defined in Greek Law 3500/2006 and aims at repairing the harm caused to the victim of family violence and rebuild family relationships. Mediation process starts upon victims’ unreserved consent and perpetrators’ willingness to stop further acts of violence, attend a counseling program and restore any harm/damage caused to the victim. Then the prosecutor ceases the case for 3 years and refers the perpetrator to counseling. If any of the previous conditions are violated during this period the criminal procedure continues at the stage before mediation. A university lab in Crete, Greece (LaHeRS, HMU) offers one of the few in Greece perpetrators’ behavior change programs in collaboration with the Prosecutor’s Office. LaHeRS counseling program consists of a minimum of 24 sessions per offender based on an individual or group approach. Emphasis is placed on perceptions of power and control, anger management, trauma management, emotional expression, and social/communication skills. Each perpetrator is offered 2 sessions (intake/violence documentation and assessment of individual/couples’ needs), 2-3 sessions for psychiatric and risk assessment, 12-15 individual or group counseling sessions (combined with couples’ sessions, as necessary), 2-4 individual social support sessions. Sessions are conducted by trained psychologists and social workers. The current presentation reports on the Intimate partner violence (IPV) cases referred between February 2022 and December 2023. A total of 70 IPV cases attended the program (male n = 65; mean age 43.4; Greek n = 56; urban residence n = 49; children average=1.92). Physical violence was reported in 54 cases and verbal aggression in 43 cases. Four perpetrators had mental health problems and 6 were identified with some form of drug and alcohol misuse. Lack of communication and emotional skills, lack of parent emotional support, gender roles stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes were common among perpetrators. Key messages • It is important for perpetrators’ programs to address the underlying causes of criminal behavior to promote positive changes in perpetrators’ lives. • Effective penal mediation programs require collaboration and partnership between justice agencies, academia and community organizations.

Evidence of Internal Structure Validity, Measurement Invariance, Convergent Validity, Clinical Validity, and Reliability of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool in Peruvian Women.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common type of violence committed against women and results in serious personal, familial, social, and economic consequences; thus, there is a need to detect IPV early. One test for detecting IPV is the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST). The objective of the study was to obtain evidence of the validity of the WAST in terms of its internal structure, measurement invariance, convergent validity, clinical validity, and reliability. A total of 670 women who have or have had a heterosexual relationship participated in the study. The first stage included 513 adult women who partook of health services (M age = 35.5 years, SD age = 10 years). The second stage included 160 women, 80 diagnosed with IPV (M age = 34.2 years, SD age = 11.8 years) and 80 who were not (M age = 31.8 years, SD age = 11.5 years). We used multivariate and receiver operating characteristic curve analyses. We found evidence that the WAST demonstrates a one-dimensional structure; evidence of measurement invariance regarding cohabitation with the partner, length of the relationship, and age; evidence of convergent validity in terms of correlations with emotional dependence, self-compassion, expressive suppression, anxiety, and depression; and evidence of clinical validity in terms of the high probability of detecting positive cases of IPV. These properties support the use of the WAST for detecting possible cases of IPV, which will allow timely intervention. This instrument can also be used in larger studies on IPV in the Spanish-speaking population.

Female Victims of Firearm Intimate Partner Violence: Characterization and Lethality Predictors.

Objective: To characterize the sociological risk factors for firearm intimate partner violence (IPV) among women in Texas, with a focus on lethal predictors to aid in screening and intervention guidelines. Methods: A retrospective medical and forensic chart review was conducted and supplemented by news sources, public police reports, and court records on firearm cases in Houston, TX, from 2018 to 2020. IPV was defined as a cis-gendered female victim of firearm violence from a current or ex-intimate partner. Non-IPV was defined as cis-gendered female victims of firearm violence from strangers, friends/acquaintances, gang, client, or similar relationships. Numeric variables were compared using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and reported as median [Q1, Q3]. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher's exact test and reported as count (%). Results: A total of 102 cases of IPV were identified. Nonspousal IPV was more prevalent than spousal (65.7% versus 34.3%). Lethal injuries, older age, home location, and head injuries were more prevalent in the IPV cohort. Older age, spousal perpetrator, home shooting location, and history of prior domestic abuse were associated with lethal IPV. There were 31 cases of murder-suicide. During the COVID-19 pandemic, IPV cases increased by 91.3%, with lethal cases increasing by 57.6%. Conclusion: Risk factors for overall IPV and lethal IPV are not the same; therefore, it is imperative that all women, irrespective of race, age, or relationship status, be screened for IPV and prior domestic violence to allow intervention and prevention of lethal IPV. Patients should also be screened for personal or partner access to firearms as firearm IPV is a highly lethal form of violence.

Identifying Evidentiary Checkpoints and Strategies to Support Successful Acquittals for Women who Kill an Abusive Partner During a Violent Confrontation

This study examined 32 Australian cases of women prosecuted for killing their abusive male partners in self-defence between 2010 and 2023. The objective was to track the legal pathways and identify salient factors influencing both acquittals and convictions. While most women received a manslaughter conviction by pleading guilty, nearly all cases that proceeded to trial resulted in no conviction. Key findings include: the utility of partial defences as a safety net for self-defence; evidence of overcharging; the identification of “evidentiary checkpoints” at trial to downgrade or withdraw murder charges; a checklist for legal counsel advising clients on the risks of trial; the advantage of private legal counsel in successful self-defence claims; and the systemic disadvantage of Indigenous women, highlighting the need for continued research. These findings underscore the intricate dynamics within the legal system when addressing cases of intimate partner violence, emphasising the need for comprehensive reforms and support structures.

Paramedic educational interventions for out-of-hospital domestic and intimate partner violence cases: A scoping review

Domestic and intimate partner violence are significant causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The act is usually serial in nature and tends to amplify in severity if not intervened. The first interaction a victim-survivor has with the healthcare system may be through a paramedic. Paramedics are opportunely placed for early violence intervention. Previous research sought to assess the impact of domestic and intimate partner violence education on healthcare professionals, primarily with in-hospital staff, however, there has been relatively minimal inquiry concerning paramedic education and practice. This study aimed to investigate evidence regarding domestic and intimate partner violence educational interventions for pre- and in-service paramedics. Additionally, we describe the nature and extent of interprofessional training and the relevant practice guidelines/policies for paramedic responses. A scoping review, utilising an a priori piloted search strategy (Medline via PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCOhost), was used to identify literature published from 2002 related to paramedic domestic and intimate partner violence interventions. Academic literature including research produced by organizations outside of conventional academic publishing were searched. A total of 1713 records were identified, and 36 were included for descriptive analysis. Major topic domains identified included teaching content and methods, professionalising best practices for public protection, intersectionality calls for interprofessional training, and the impact of educational interventions. With reports increasingly highlighting the potential role of the paramedic response to violence, there is a paucity of studies related to its improvement. Reported teaching strategies across multiple settings have some consistency. Though interventions may improve behaviour and actual/perceived knowledge and competence, there is no evidence suggesting an impact on victim-survivor experiences and outcomes. Interprofessional collaborations between out-of-hospital services, police, social workers, and in-hospital staff may be useful but remains underreported/underutilised. Future research should focus on domestic and intimate partner violence victim-survivor stakeholder engagement and intervention implementation.

Antepartum Intimate Partner Violence: Development of a Risk Prediction Model.

Objectives: To explore socio-behavioral, clinical, and imaging findings associated with antepartum intimate partner violence (IPV) and aid in risk stratification of at-risk individuals. Methods: We analyzed electronic medical records during indexed pregnancies for 108 pregnant patients who self-reported antepartum IPV (cases) and 106 age-matched pregnant patients who did not self-report antepartum IPV (controls). Sociodemographic, clinical, and radiology data were analyzed via chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests with p < 0.05 as the threshold for significance. Stepwise logistic regression was applied to derive a risk prediction model. Results: The proportion of cases reporting emotional IPV (76% vs. 52%) and/or physical IPV (45% vs. 31%) during pregnancy significantly increased from prior to pregnancy. Cases were significantly more likely to report prepregnancy substance use (odds ratio [OR] = 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-5.98), sexually transmitted infections (OR = 3.48; 95%CI: 1.64-7.37), abortion (OR = 3.17; 95%CI: 1.79, 5.59), and preterm birth (OR = 5.97; 95%CI: 1.69-21.15). During pregnancy, cases were more likely to report unstable housing (OR = 5.26; 95%CI: 2.67-10.36), multigravidity (OR = 2.83; 95%CI: 1.44-5.58), multiparity (OR = 3.75; 95%CI: 1.72-8.20), anxiety (OR = 3.35; 95%CI: 1.85-6.08), depression (OR = 5.58; 95%CI: 3.07-10.16), substance use (OR = 2.92; 95%CI: 1.28-6.65), urinary tract infection (UTI) (OR = 3.26; 95%CI: 1.14-9.32), intrauterine growth restriction (OR = 10.71; 95%CI: 1.35-85.25), and cesarean delivery (OR = 2.25; 95%CI: 1.26-4.02). Cases had significantly more OBGYN abnormalities on imaging and canceled more radiological studies (OR = 5.31). Logistic regression found housing status, sexually transmitted infection history, preterm delivery history, abortion history, depression, and antepartum UTI predictive of antepartum IPV. The risk prediction model achieved good calibration with an area under the curve of 0.79. Conclusions: This study identifies significant disparities among patients experiencing antepartum IPV, and our proposed risk prediction model can inform risk assessment in this setting.

Examination of bone fractures in women exposed to domestic violence (Tokat-Turkey)

BackgroundFractures are an important symptom of physical violence that will negatively affect the woman's quality of life in the coming years. However, there is limited information in the literature about fractures in women exposed to domestic violence (DV). The aim of this study was to compare fracture development rates and age distributions in women exposed to DV and intimate partner violence (IPV), a component of DV, and women exposed to other physical violence (OV), to determine the incidence of DV cases with and without fractures, and to determine fracture locations in DV cases and to identify diagnostic lesions accompanying fractures. MethodsA retrospective review was made of patients injured as a result of IPV, other domestic violence (ODV) and OV. The data of cases with fracture were analyzed in terms of age groups of the victims and according to location and types of fractures. ResultsOf the 854 female patients aged >18 years who were admitted to the hospital due to violence, 55.2% were exposed to DV. Most DV victims (87.9%) were assaulted by intimate partners. The incidence of fractures in IPV cases (7.2%), was nearly twice that of ODV and OV cases. The mean age of IPV cases with fractures (42.1 ± 12.1 years) was significantly higher than that of IPV cases without fractures (33.1 ± 11.8 years) (p < 0.05). Most IPV cases (61.8%) were aged <35 years. Most DV cases with fractures (75%) were aged <50 years. Facial/neck injuries (41.5%) and facial fractures (52.6%) were prominent in DV cases. ConclusionThe results of this study of the presence of facial fractures, especially in women aged <50 years, is an important finding that can alert doctors to potential cases of domestic violence.

The association between psychological distress, abusive experiences, and help-seeking among people with intimate partner violence.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem associated with countless adverse physical and mental health outcomes. It places an enormous economic and public health burden on communities. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between psychological states (such as depression or hopeless) and help-seeking experiences of IPV survivors after experiencing IPV, based on the Allegheny County Health Survey (ACHS). Data from 2015 to 2016 Allegheny County Health Survey with N = 8,012 adults were analyzed. The 6-item version of the Kessler Psychological Stress Scale, located in Module 11 of the ACHS questionnaire, was used to measure psychological stress in participants. Module 12 of the ACHS questionnaire collected information on participants' experiences of intimate partner violence and help-seeking in the past 12 months. Descriptive statistical analysis, Pearson's chi-square or two sample independent t-tests statistical analysis, and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between IPV experience and psychological distress. A total of 212 of the 8,012 participants had IPV experience, with age, marital status, education, income, and race significantly different from those without IPV experience. The psychological stress of participants feeling hopeless (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.37-2.99), restless or fidgety (OR = 1.83, 95% CI = 1.27-2.65), perceiving everything was an effort (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.08-2.22) and worthless (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.01-2.20) was associated with the IPV experience. Help-seeking behaviors of IPV survivors were associated with psychological distress, such as hopelessness (OR = 6.71, 95% CI = 1.38-32.60). This study explored the association between IPV experience, help-seeking and psychological distress, and the need to expand community support. It is necessary to implement targeted interventions, enhance training of professionals, and promote the identification of early IPV cases as well as collaboration between healthcare and social support departments to reduce the occurrence of IPV or psychological distress following IPV.

Fracture variation in survivable versus fatal blunt force trauma associated with intimate partner violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global human rights issue that affects approximately 25% of women and 10% of men and is the leading cause of homicides of women worldwide. Multiple interventional studies have been conducted to screen for IPV; however, fractures associated with intimate partner homicide (IPH) have not been studied from a forensic anthropological perspective. Therefore, this study uses computed tomography scans of IPH victims (n=33) obtained from the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator to 1) classify and quantify perimortem craniofacial blunt force fractures, and 2) compare the IPH-related fractures to those associated with non-lethal IPV using previously published studies. The results indicate that IPH cases presented similarly to non-lethal IPV cases in that they were concentrated on the middle and lower face, but fractures were more frequent in the upper face and cranial vault in IPH cases. While IPH cases showed more fractures, they were not necessarily associated with extensive fracturing, as 75.8% of IPH victims had five or fewer fractures—the most common being comminuted and linear fractures, comprising 93.8% of IPH-related fractures. As IPV is significantly underreported, understanding the nuances of fracture patterns associated with IPH can help to aid holistic forensic investigations.

Challenges and opportunities in collaborative approaches to responding to intimate partner violence: insights from social workers and police in Sweden

ABSTRACT This qualitative study explores the opportunities and challenges of collaboration experienced by social workers and police officers when dealing with cases of intimate partner violence (IPV) and stalking. The study aims to examine their collaborative approaches in risk assessment and risk management by identifying the structures, supports, and foundations crucial for effective collaboration. Our data, collected from twelve interviews and one focus group interview with social workers and police officers, reveals that collaboration was facilitated by assigning specific roles to involved parties, proximity, structure and professionalism. These key factors emerged as crucial and contributing to the effectiveness of the collaborative efforts. Practitioners should consider integrating these key elements into their practices to enhance and improve collaboration when addressing cases of IPV and stalking. The study underscores the need for a well-defined framework and support structures to optimise the collaborative response to such complex and sensitive issues.

Gender, Sexism, and Police Attitudes Toward Policing Intimate Partner Violence in China.

This study examines the impact of gender and sexism on police officers' attitudes toward policing intimate partner violence (IPV). Data were collected from 826 Chinese police officers through online questionnaires. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis found that male police officers and those with sexist attitudes believe that handling IPV cases is illegitimate; they tend to perceive that the police are not morally bound to regulate such cases. Meanwhile, policewomen are less likely to consider that IPV interventions are difficult and resource-intensive. Findings indicate the need to amend policies and practices concerning gender and sexism among police officers to control IPV.

Substance use and recidivism of intimate partner violence in Peru: A cross-sectional study.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) carries significant global burden, with approximately 27% of women who have ever had a partner experiencing IPV. Additionally, substance use (alcohol and drugs) is often associated with aggressive attitudes and serves as a risk factor for IPV. Determine the association between substance use and the recurrence of IPV in the Peruvian population in 2022. A cross-sectional study was conducted using public data from the Ministry of Women, employing regression based on generalized linear models to calculate crude and adjusted Odds Ratios. A total of 65,290 cases of IPV were analyzed, the results revealed that 93.70% of the reports were cases of recidivism. A relationship was identified between substance use and IPV, with an Odds Ratio of 2.24 for the perpetrator's alcohol consumption and an Odds Ratio of 2.33 for drug use. Based on these findings, it can be concluded that a relationship exists between substance use and IPV, and national strategies should incorporate proper monitoring after the initial report of violence, as well as effective control of substance use among perpetrators.

Administrative Decentralization and the Role of Information: The Case of Intimate Partner Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The U.S. federal government often devolves administrative processes and decision making to state and local governments. Prior studies have found that the success of decentralization and implementation depends on several mediating factors at the subnational level, such as a state's political ideology or administrative capacity. This study focuses on one mechanism—the ability of states to leverage their information advantage about the local context vis-à-vis the federal government. We are interested in whether the information advantage of state-level firearm background checks decreased the rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) involving a firearm compared to states that relied on federally administered background checks. We take advantage of data from the period of state-mandated stay-at-home (SAH) orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporal context with increased IPV rates. Using a Poisson fixed effects regression, we find that rates of IPV involving a firearm did not increase when the SAH orders were in effect. However, using decision-relevant information in state-administered background checks decreased the rates of IPV resulting in injury and murder-suicide, compared to states that relied on federal background checks.

Restorative Justice in Cases of Intimate Partner Violence in the United States: A Metasynthesis

Restorative justice (RJ) has been applied to intimate partner violence (IPV) cases, but some question whether RJ is appropriate for IPV. This review is the first to focus on qualitative research on how RJ is interpreted and used in IPV cases in the United States. Six articles met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicated that RJ is used with the criminal legal system (CLS), initiated by the victim, and is not community-oriented. Concerns for victims being harmed or retraumatized were not supported in RJ processes happening in relation to the CLS, with some providers highlighting the importance of facilitation training and techniques. Additional research is needed to explore RJ processes and their relationship to the CLS for IPV.

Analysis of cases of intimate partner violence against indigenous women reported in the macroregion of Dourados-MS, Brazil.

The present study aimed to analyze notifications of intimate partner violence (IPV) against indigenous women in the macro-region of Dourados-MS, Brazil, from 2009 to 2020. This is a cross-sectional study with secondary data from registered reports in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) of indigenous women who suffered violence. Descriptive statistics of the variables and Poisson regression were performed to determine the prevalence ratio (PR). IPV represented 56.6% of reports. The most reported types of violence were physical violence (93.3%) and psychological violence (27%). In the adjusted analysis, IPV was associated with women with partners (PR 1.32, 95%CI 1.19; 1.46), and women in situations of repeated violence (PR 1.15, 95%CI 1.05; 1.25) and at home as the place of occurrence (PR 1.13, 95%CI 1.01; 1.29). The majority of reports of violence against indigenous women registered in the Dourados health macro-region were perpetrated by an intimate partner. Knowledge of the profile of violence that arrives at health services, combined with associated factors, should enable the implementation of strategies aimed at reducing the number of cases.

Analysis of cases of intimate partner violence against indigenous women reported in the macroregion of Dourados-MS, Brazil

Resumen El objetivo del estudio es analizar las notificaciones de violencia de pareja íntima (VPI) contra mujeres indígenas en la macrorregión Dourados-MS, entre 2009 y 2020. Se trata de un estudio transversal con datos secundarios de notificaciones registradas en el Sistema de Información de Enfermedades/Daños a la salud de Notificación (SINAN) de mujeres indígenas que han sufrido violencia. Se realizó estadística descriptiva de las variables y regresión de Poisson para determinar la razón de prevalencia (RP). La VPI representó el 56,6% de las notificaciones. Los tipos de violencia más notificados fueron la violencia física (93,3%) y la violencia psicológica (27%). En el análisis ajustado, la VPI se asoció a mujeres con pareja (RP 1,32; IC95%: 1,19; 1,46), a mujeres en situación de violencia reiterada (RP 1,15; IC95%: 1,05; 1,25) y al hogar como lugar de ocurrencia (RP 1,13; IC95%: 1,01; 1,29). La mayoría de las denuncias de violencia contra mujeres indígenas en la macrorregión de salud de Dourados fue perpetrada por la pareja íntima. El conocimiento del perfil de violencia que llega a los servicios de salud, junto con los factores asociados, debe permitir implementar estrategias dirigidas a reducir el número de casos.

Telemedicine and virtual healthcare for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence: A qualitative study.

Survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence often face many challenges in seeking/receiving healthcare and are often lost to follow up. Our study objectives are to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction of using telemedicine technology among sexual assault and intimate partner violence patients who present to a Canadian Emergency Department. Qualitative research was conducted using a thematic approach. Patients were identified from a case registry of all sexual assault and intimate partner violence cases seen between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2022 from an emergency department of a large Canadian hospital. Qualitative trauma-informed interviews were conducted with consenting participants. Thematic qualitative analyses were performed to investigate barriers and drivers of telemedicine for follow-up care. Of the 1007 sexual assault and intimate partner violence patients seen during the study timeframe, 180 (8%) consented to be contacted for future research, and 10 completed an interview regarding telemedicine for follow-up care. All participants were cisgendered women, 5 (50%) experienced sexual assault, 6 (60%) physical assault, and 3 (30%) verbal assault. All knew their assailant, and 6 (60%) were assaulted by a current or former intimate partner. Three themes emerged as drivers of telemedicine use: increased comfort, increased convenience, and less time required for the appointment. Three thematic barriers to telemedicine use included lack of privacy from others, lack of safety from their assailant, and pressure to balance competing tasks during the appointment. This study illustrated that telemedicine for sexual assault and intimate partner violence follow-up care is feasible, acceptable, and can improve patient satisfaction with follow-up care. Ensuring safety and privacy are key considerations when offering telemedicine as an appropriate option for survivors.