Women Domestic Violence Research Articles

ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES OF DOCTORS TOWARD DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Our study intended to ascertain doctors’ attitudes and practices toward domestic violence in a sample of 402 doctors randomly chosen for a mail survey from a list of registered medical practitioners in South Africa. We found that the mean number of patients treated for domestic violence per month was 11.4 (SD = 13.4); for White doctors 15.8, African Black 6.2, and for Asian doctors 5.3. The high frequency of domestic violence detected in this sample seems to reflect national surveys on domestic violence. Most doctors believed that they should play a role in prevention and treatment, and their attitudes toward victims of domestic violence were generally sympathetic and supportive. Male doctors and long-serving practitioners tended to have more conservative views of the causes and attitudes of spousal assault and of the doctors’ role in prevention. Only 9.7% of the doctors had received any training on domestic violence. Further research is needed to establish the prevalence of domestic violence in women presenting to medical practitioners and to investigate how the problem currently is being addressed.

Experience of 'screening' for domestic violence in women's services.

Experience of 'screening' for domestic violence in women's services.

Universal screening for domestic violence in abortion

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the policy of universal screening for domestic violence in an abortion clinic. Compliance with the policy was low, because only 254 of 499 women seen were asked the screening questions: 58% of Caucasians, 40% of East Asians, and 37% of South Asians were screened ( P = .003). Of the 254 women asked about abuse, 38 said they had been abused in the past 12 months, giving a prevalence rate of domestic violence similar to that of the general population. Screening for domestic violence in women presenting for abortion is challenging, but feasible.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, posttraumatic stress disorder, and women domestic violence survivors.

Empirical evidence and diagnostic decision rules for diagnosing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory - 2 were originally developed with a narrow and heterogeneous sample of trauma victims, Vietnam veterans. Relatively little empirical study has been given to the use of the MMPI-2 among domestic violence survivors, especially as it pertains to the issue of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The utility and validity of prior empirical findings, based primarily on Vietnam veterans, cannot be extrapolated to other trauma victims without further empirical evidence supporting such application. In this study the MMPI-2 was administered to 93 women domestic violence survivors from domestic violence (a) shelters, (b) support groups, (c) outreach centers, and (d) other social service agencies. The Post-Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (Foa, 1995) was used to identify which of 93 women survivors met diagnostic criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Multivariate analysis of variance, using nine MMPI-2 scales, found significant differences between women domestic violence survivors with and without PTSD on the F, K, 1(Hs), 2(D), 6(Pa), B(Sc), and PK-PTSD scales. Stepwise discriminant function analysis produced one significant discriminant function, including the K validity and the 1(Hs) scales, a 78% correct classification rate, and a sensitivity and specificity of 88% and 60%, respectively. The PK-PTSD scale correctly classified 68% of all cases, and a sensitivity and specificity of 81% and 45%, respectively, were found. Canonical correlation of MMPI-2 scales with sub-scales from Foa's (1995) Post-Traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale revealed significant multiple correlations. Major findings suggest the MMPI-2 is sensitive to PTSD symptomatology and capable of discriminating between domestic violence survivors with and without PTSD. The MMPI-2 is as diagnostically efficient for assessing PTSD in domestic violence survivors as it is been found to be for Vietnam veterans. Implications for theory, research, practice, and limitations of this research are discussed.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, posttraumatic stress disorder, and women domestic violence survivors.

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2, posttraumatic stress disorder, and women domestic violence survivors.

Evaluation of physical and sexual domestic violence of women seeking obstetrical and gynecological care at a university hospital in Brazil

Evaluation of physical and sexual domestic violence of women seeking obstetrical and gynecological care at a university hospital in Brazil

Markers for domestic violence in women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine injury patterns and characteristics specific to domestic violence in women who present to the accident and emergency (A&E) department. DESIGN: A retrospective case note review of all...

Head, neck/ and facial injuries as markers of domestic violence in women

Head, neck/ and facial injuries as markers of domestic violence in women

Head, neck, and facial injuries as markers of domestic violence in women

Purpose: The diagnosis of domestic violence (DV) is difficult because of a lack of clearly defined signs and symptoms. The goal of this study was to confirm and refine the role of head, neck, and face (HNF) injuries as markers of DV. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study design and a sample of female trauma patients treated in an inner-city hospital emergency room (Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA) were used. The predictor study variable was injury location (HNF or other location). The outcome variable was traumatic origin (DV or other cause). A victim of DV was defined as a patient who gave a history of being injured by her spouse or sexual partner. Other data included age, nature of the injury (blunt or penetrating), and injury severity score (ISS). Descriptive, bivariate, and logistic regression statistical analyses were performed. Results: The sample consisted of 100 injured women, with a mean age of 40 ± 16.3 years and a mean ISS of 3.3 ± 3.0. Thirty-four women were victims of DV. The mean age of the DV victims was 32.5 ± 7.3 years, compared with a mean age of 43.9 ± 18.2 year in the other-causes group ( P = .001). The mean ISS for the DV victims was 3.4 ± 3.0, and the mean ISS for the other-causes group was 3.2 ± 3.0 ( P = .65). DV victims were 7.5 (2.5 < RR < 22.9) times more likely to have HNF injuries than other trauma patients ( P < .001), Age was associated with cause and location of injury. After controlling for age, location remained statistically associated with cause ( P = .0002). Sensitivity and specificity of HNF injuries and DV were 91% and 59%, respectively. Conclusions: The data suggest that although HNF injuries and age were sensitive predictors of DV, they remain poor in their specificity as markers.

“My Problem and How I Solved It”: Domestic Violence in Women's Magazines

Social scientists have generated a vast literature on domestic violence, a small part of which has entered the popular media and the consciousness of its consumers. As yet there has been little scholarly investigation of this popular body of knowledge on domestic violence. Using a qualitative analysis of popular women's magazine articles and magazine writers' guidebooks, I investigate the content, creation, and impact of this popular discourse. In this study, I demonstrate that the majority of articles in popular women's magazines continue to portray the public issue of domestic violence as a private problem. Not only is it portrayed as a private problem but most often it is the victim's problem. The dominant individual perspective that places responsibility on the victim normalizes the idea that victims should be held responsible for solving the problem. Finally, I demonstrate how the writing and editorial practices of these popular women's magazines contribute to the dominance of assigning responsibility for domestic violence to individuals.

Spoiling the Child: Domestic Violence and the Interests of Children

ABSTRACTCurrent domestic violence legislation is evaluated to establish whether it sufficiently recognises the links between custody of and access to children and domestic violence. Women's primary responsibility for childcare renders them uniquely vulnerable to domestic violence by constraining their ability to leave abusive relationships and by limiting their capacity to negotiate divorce settlements to their own and their children's advantage. After divorce, batterers may use their rights of access to children to continue to abuse mothers. Furthermore, children who live in homes in which domestic violence occurs are adversely affected. Although the Prevention of Family Violence Act 133 of 1993 determines that a court issuing a protection order may deny or lay down conditions for access to children by the batterer, this provision applies only at the time when a protection order is sought. In cases deciding access or custody at divorce, courts fail to take account of the implications of domestic violence for women or children. Equally, the Mediation in Certain Divorce Matters Act 24 of 1987 does not provide guidelines to Family Advocates dealing with such cases. Mechanisms and rules are suggested which would advance the interests of women and children subject to domestic violence at divorce.

"MY PROBLEM AND HOW I SOLVED IT":. Domestic Violence in Women's Magazines

"MY PROBLEM AND HOW I SOLVED IT":. Domestic Violence in Women's Magazines

Criminal Justice for Victims of Domestic Violence

In the Netherlands there is no criminal act of ‘domestic violence’. Although domestic violence is covered by general provisions of criminal law, the specific aspects of domestic violence of women are often not recognized by the police, the prosecutor and judges. In this article the problems of protection by criminal law are considered, and suggestions are made to enhance the protection by criminal law.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN WOMEN

Domestic violence is a significant public health issue affecting women. Numerous medical organizations have recommended that routine screening of women be conducted to assist in the prevention, identification, and care for victims of violence. This article examines the scope of domestic violence in women, reviews ways to recognize abuse, examines the potential impact of abuse upon health and discusses the management of victims.

Markers for domestic violence in women: R. Spedding, B.P. McNicholl, C.H. Dearden and M. McWilliams (Belfast and Jordanstown, UK)

Markers for domestic violence in women: R. Spedding, B.P. McNicholl, C.H. Dearden and M. McWilliams (Belfast and Jordanstown, UK)

ED physician house staff response to training on domestic violence

Objective About one fourth of physicians report having received training on domestic violence. The purpose of this study was to determine the response of the ED house staff to an educational program on domestic violence against women. The research questions in this study were as follows: (1) What training topics did the house staff rate as most important and relevant to their practice? (2) What topics did the house staff rate as most useful to their day-to-day practice? (3) What were the house staff's attitudes and beliefs before training? (4) Did the method of training on domestic violence influence the house staff's attitudes and beliefs? (5) What were the house staff's perceptions in terms of sociodemographic variables? Methods An exploratory descriptive study with a three-group pretest and posttest design was used. The sample consisted of 37 residents, interns, and medical students assigned to their clinical rotation in the emergency department in a large urban hospital trauma center. The age range of the participants was 25 to 40 years. The instruments used included Importance of Training Topics for Domestic Violence Questionnaire (ITTDVQ), Usefulness of Training Topics for Domestic Violence Questionnaire (UTTDVQ), Inventory of Beliefs About Wife Beating (IBWB), and the Self-Efficacy Scale for Battered Women-Professional Version (SESFBW-PV). Results Topics on domestic violence against women that the house staff rated as most important, relevant, and most useful in their day-to-day practice were awareness of the problem, referral as intervention, documentation of abuse, and references/resources. Attitudes and beliefs after training suggested an increased (1) confidence in the self-efficacy behaviors of women who are abused by intimate others, (2) need for the assessment, treatment, and referral for domestic violence in women who enter the emergency department with medical problems/injuries, and (3) belief that help should be given to women who are abused. There was very little variation in perceptions of the house staff in terms of age, gender, education, ethnic origin, or marital status. Discussion The major conclusion of the study was that the house staff had a positive response to training on violence against women. Sixty-five percent of the house staff had no previous training on domestic violence. Implications for practice include continuing education and research on domestic violence training in the emergency department.

An empowering approach to women's domestic violence groups

Abstract This paper is the result of over four years experience in working with women who are survivors of domestic violence. It examines the usefulness of different models (including the Mutual Help Model, the Duluth Minnesota Model, and the Mutual Aid Model) and the need for flexibility and spontaneity in this area. A framework for working in groups with women struggling with domestic violence is set out in this paper, with particular attention given to the needs and difficulties of working with women from non-English speaking backgrounds. The difficulties in running an open and ongoing group are also discussed along with the advantages of seeing these women in a group setting. The paper looks at both the theory and the practice of running a group which empowers women and facilitates their making choices and changes in their lives.