Violence Intervention Research Articles

The Potential Impact of Hospital Violence Intervention Programs.

The Potential Impact of Hospital Violence Intervention Programs.

The CAMPUS Study: A Systems Approach to Alcohol-Involved Sexual Violence on College Campuses.

Developing a better mechanistic and multilevel understanding of sexual violence on college campuses can help us evaluate and implement existing interventions, as well as develop new ones. We brought together scientists, practitioners, and college students to collaboratively characterize the systems surrounding alcohol-involved sexual violence on college campuses. Using collaborative model-building, they created models that highlight interconnected and multilevel influences and consequences of sexual violence. Collaborative model-building activities involved two collaborator groups (twelve students and eight practitioners) and a core modeling team (seven scientists). Each collaborator group met for four two-hour sessions to develop systems models of alcohol use and sexual violence on college campuses. The core modeling team facilitated each session and worked between sessions to ensure the successful development of the model. Specific activities included identifying and prioritizing the causes and consequences of alcohol-involved sexual violence, characterizing the causal relationships between these factors, and developing and modifying causal loop diagrams to illustrate these relationships. Both students and practitioners identified key causes and consequences, including both individual-level (e.g., drinking to intoxication) and campus-level (e.g., institutional support for survivors) constructs. Both groups identified the causal relationships between these variables and identified salient, modifiable mechanisms for reducing alcohol-involved sexual violence. The collaborative model-building process successfully included diverse collaborator voices, integrating influential factors across multiple social-ecological levels. This iterative and capability-building approach can bridge intensive modeling efforts with the implementation and development of more effective sexual violence interventions.

12 Access to paediatric maltreatment services through a northern community hospital

Abstract Background Few studies have evaluated how paediatric maltreatment services based in community hospitals can provide access to care for populations who live far away from tertiary centres. The Violence Intervention Prevention Program (VIPP) and the Paediatric Abuse and Referral Evaluation (PARE) clinic based in a northern community hospital in Canada offer assessment for sexual and physical maltreatment. Objectives The aim of the study was to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients accessing VIPP and PARE services and to characterize the length of time required to access care. Design/Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients, under 16 years of age, who attended PARE clinic for initial consultation between 2017-2019. Analyses were descriptive. This work was approved by the research ethics board at our hospital. There are no funding disclosures. Results Of 164 patients, 62.2% were female; 37.8% male. The mean age was 6.6 years, ranging from 1 month to 15.9 years. 54.3% of referrals were for suspected physical maltreatment, 44.4% for suspected sexual maltreatment and 1.2% for both. 87.5% of patients listed home addresses within the hospital’s city limits. The maximum distance travelled from home to access care was 171 km. 87.2% of patients presented through the emergency department; a minority presented through direct referral to outpatient services (11.5%) or through inpatient (1.2%). When called from the emergency department, on-call VIPP nurses responded within a mean of 32 minutes for initial assessment. These patients received a maltreatment assessment by a paediatrician through the PARE clinic a mean of 14.3 days later. If patients did not present through the emergency department, the mean wait time for a maltreatment assessment by a paediatrician was 16 days. 13.4% (22/164) required referral to other medical or multidisciplinary services. General paediatrics (11/22) was the most frequent referral, followed by community speech programs (5/22). A minority (3.0%) of cases required consultation with external maltreatment teams, where two cases were peer-reviewed with a tertiary care team, one with a paediatric maltreatment physician at another community hospital and two cases were reviewed with a paediatric tertiary care radiologist. Conclusion Our results suggest that community-based paediatric maltreatment services provide care for our regional northern population. There is timely on-call access to allied-health providers through the emergency department. All patients were able to be assessed locally and none were required to travel to a tertiary care hospital. Further study is needed to assess how our data compares to other community maltreatment programs.

Analyzing perspectives on bystander intervention in intimate partner violence: Insights from South Korean bystanders.

Analyzing perspectives on bystander intervention in intimate partner violence: Insights from South Korean bystanders.

Gender-based violence and its determinants among refugees and internally displaced women in Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundGender-based violence is a serious public health concern and affects a large number of women and girls in humanitarian emergencies. Despite this, there is a dearth of the summary data to address the issue. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the estimated pooled magnitude and factors associated with gender-based violence among refugees and internally displaced women in Africa.MethodsPubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, African Journals OnLine, PsycINFO, and EMBASE were among the databases that were used to search the primary articles. The reviewed papers were articles that evaluated the prevalence and contributing variables of gender-based violence against refugees and internally displaced women in Africa. We extracted the data using a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, which we exported into Stata version 14 for further analysis. The I2 test was applied to identify statistical heterogeneity. We used a random effect meta-analysis methodology because of the heterogeneity. A funnel plot and Egger’s weighted regression test were used to examine publication bias.ResultsThis systematic review and meta-analysis reviewed 17 primary studies with a total of 6,161 refugees and internally displaced women in Africa. The findings of this study revealed that the estimated pooled prevalence of gender-based violence among refugees and internally displaced women was determined to be 48.20% (95% CI: 39.28, 57.12). Young age (AOR = 3.68, CI: 2.63, 5.14), alcohol consumption (AOR = 2.53, CI: 1.56, 4.11), and having no social protection (AOR = 3.21, CI: 2.22, 4.63) were factors significantly associated with gender-based violence.Conclusions and recommendationsThe present study showed that almost half of refugees and internally displaced women residing in Africa were survivors of gender-based violence. Younger women, alcohol users, and those without social protection were more likely to experience gender-based violence. Therefore, it is recommended that accessible information about the consequences of gender-based violence and early intervention for survivors be provided, taking these factors into consideration.

A Multi-site Examination of Relationship Violence Intervention Program Attrition for Male and Female Clients

The current study addresses the paucity of research on relationship violence intervention program (RVIP) attrition examining both male and female clients and risk factors for attrition across gender. Bivariate comparison tests and logistic regression were used to examine gender differences among participants from four RVIPs in Maryland that serve both male and female clients ( n = 1,307). Findings showed significant bivariate differences by gender for 14 of the factors examined. Less than half of clients (48%) completed RVIP, and women were significantly more likely to complete than men. A greater number of factors predicted attrition for male clients, but unemployment was the strongest predictor of attrition for both men and women. Implications for integrating gender-responsive practices into RVIP are discussed.

Long-Term Effect of a Bystander Violence Intervention on Prevalence of Drug Use Disorders in a Prospective Cohort of Emerging Adults

Long-Term Effect of a Bystander Violence Intervention on Prevalence of Drug Use Disorders in a Prospective Cohort of Emerging Adults

Improvements in Safety Outcomes Following Brief Healthcare-Based Intimate Partner Violence Interventions among Women Who Screen Positive for Intimate Partner Violence-Related Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Background: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common consequence of experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV-related TBI contributes to adverse health outcomes among women, but it is unknown whether a history of IPV-related TBI negatively impacts safety outcomes following healthcare-based interventions for IPV. Methods: Using data from a larger randomized clinical trial, we explored the impact of IPV-related TBI status on safety-related outcomes in two healthcare-based IPV interventions. At baseline, 35% (n = 21) of the sample screened positive for IPV-related TBI history. We used repeated measures ANOVAs to examine differences in safety outcomes at post-treatment and 1-month follow-up based on treatment condition and IPV-related TBI status. Results: Significant interaction effects were found for safety outcomes, such that women with IPV-related TBI history experienced larger reductions in the frequency of physical IPV and similar reductions in sexual IPV across both treatment conditions compared to women without IPV-TBI (F(2, 102) = 10.88, p < 0.001; F(2, 98) = 3.93, p = 0.036). Conclusions: Findings suggest that brief healthcare-based IPV interventions may result in improvements in safety outcomes for women with a history of IPV-TBI. This highlights the continued need for implementation of promising IPV-focused interventions to promote safety and protect women from experiencing further IPV.

Gun violence exposure and population health inequality: a conceptual framework

This essay establishes a conceptual framework to understand how direct, secondar and community exposures to gun violence converge to influence population health. Our framework asserts that persistent gun violence in...

MIDWIFERY SERVICE MANAGERS’ READINESS FOR PREVENTION OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA: A COMMUNITY READINESS MODEL

Obstetric violence is a public health problem that needs to be prevented at all levels to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes. The midwifery service managers, as custodians of patient care in maternity centres are in a prime position to develop and implement effective obstetric violence prevention interventions. This study explored the midwifery service managers’ level of readiness for the prevention of Obstetric Violence in three maternity centres at three separate hospitals in Oyo State, Nigeria. Data was collected from six midwifery service managers as midwifery community leaders, using the adapted Community Readiness Model as a data collection tool. The Community Readiness Model scoring guide was used to score the six dimensions of community readiness. In addition, a thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data from their views on each of the six dimensions of the Community Readiness Model. The findings revealed an overall level of readiness for the prevention of obstetric violence among midwifery service managers was at level five which is the preparatory level. This means that the community has a modest readiness for Obstetric violence prevention, and it would be easier to develop sustainable prevention interventions for obstetric violence. Understanding the midwifery service managers’ level of readiness for the prevention of obstetric violence is important for governments and other stakeholders intending to develop obstetric violence prevention interventions that are contextually appropriate and acceptable to communities.

Childhood violence exposure and anxiety and depression of children and adolescents

BackgroundMental disorders constitute a global public health problem worldwide and occurs in childhood and lasts to adulthood. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between childhood violence exposure and currently diagnosed depression and anxiety in children and adolescents and investigate whether the association differs by sex and age. MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data from 2017 to 2021 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). Childhood violence exposure and anxiety or depression of children were reported from caregivers. Logistic regression analyses and subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the association between the childhood violence exposure and anxiety and depression. ResultsThis study included 113,400 participants aged 6 to 17 years (weighted mean [SD] age, 11.5 [3.4] years; 54,539 females [weighted proportions, 48.9 %]). 9603 of them (weighted proportions, 9.0 %) had childhood violence exposure. Childhood violence exposure was associated with higher risks of anxiety (adjusted risk difference: 7.8 %, 95%CI: 6.3–9.3 %; adjusted OR: 2.11, 95%CI: 1.87–2.39) and depression (adjusted risk difference: 6.2 %, 95%CI: 5.1–7.4 %; adjusted OR: 2.94, 95%CI: 2.54–3.41) after full adjustment. Stratified analyses demonstrated that the association appeared to be stronger in younger children and the association between violence exposure and anxiety was stronger in females than in males. ConclusionIn this cross-sectional study, childhood violence exposure was significantly associated with higher risks of anxiety and depression. The associations appeared to be stronger in younger and female children. Differences in sex and age-specific associations highlight the importance of building age-specific and sex-specific patterns of childhood violence prevention and intervention.

Efficacy Of ICT Based Intimate Partner Violence Intervention; A Systematic Review

Efficacy Of ICT Based Intimate Partner Violence Intervention; A Systematic Review

“You Never Know Who’s Gonna Be Next”: The Role of Community Violence Intervention Workers in Responding to Homicides and Survivor Support

The racial and spatial concentration of homicides coupled with the low levels of protection, safety, and accountability afforded to surviving family, friends, and community members raises the question of who is capable of accompanying impacted individuals and negotiating safety in the aftermath of violent death. Community Violence Intervention (CVI) workers are a growing professional field of indigenous peacemakers who lead community-based efforts to both prevent and intervene violence. The current study presents original, novel research engaging CVI workers’ experiences responding to homicides to prevent retaliation and support survivors and how persistently responding to violent death in their community impacts their wellbeing. This exploratory study involved 35 in-depth, qualitative interviews with CVI workers and their supervisors in Chicago, IL. Thematic analysis indicates they are “first among first responders” and are critical information intermediaries to designate appropriate violence prevention and intervention strategies. CVI workers also experience traumatic grief, largely associated by their relationship and proximity to homicide victims. The implications highlight the distinctive contributions of CVI workers in formulating more comprehensive, community-based post-homicide strategies aimed at supporting marginalized survivors and communities disproportionately affected by violence.

Factors Associated With Recurrent Pediatric Firearm Injury : A 10-Year Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Firearm injuries are the leading cause of death among children aged 0 to 17 years in the United States. To examine the factors associated with recurrent firearm injury among children who presented with acute (index) nonfatal firearm injury in the St. Louis region. Multicenter, observational, cohort study. 2 adult and 2 pediatric level I trauma hospitals in St. Louis, Missouri. Pediatric patients aged 0 to 17 years presenting with an index firearm injury between 2010 and 2019. From the St. Louis Region-Wide Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Program Data Repository, we collected data on firearm-injured patient demographics, hospital and diagnostic information, health insurance status, and mortality. The Social Vulnerability Index was used to characterize the social vulnerability of the census tracts of patients' residences. Analysis included descriptive statistics and time-to-event analyses estimating the cumulative incidence of experiencing a recurrent firearm injury. During the 10-year study period, 1340 children presented with an index firearm injury. Most patients were Black (87%), non-Hispanic (99%), male (84%), and between the ages of 15 and 17 years (67%). The estimated risk for firearm reinjury was 6% at 1 year and 14% at 5 years after initial injury. Male children and those seen at an adult hospital were at increased risk for reinjury. Our data set does not account for injuries occurring outside of the study period and for reinjuries presenting to nonstudy hospitals. Children who experience an initial firearm injury are at high risk for experiencing a recurrent firearm injury. Interventions are needed to reduce reinjury and address inequities in the demographic and clinical profiles within this cohort of children. National Institutes of Health.

A hospital and community-based violence intervention program for Black & Latino youth and their caregivers.

Black and Latino youth are disproportionately affected by trauma from community violence, but to date, few data support the benefit of evidence-based treatments for these youth or of including peer support to engage these youth in mental health services. From 2018 until 2020, a hospital and community-based violence intervention program in Philadelphia pilot tested the integration of home and community-based Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) with peer services and case management for youth impacted by community violence. This study describes the implementation of this intervention. Data was gathered by querying the program's database. The Child Post Traumatic Stress Symptom Severity Scale (CPSS-SR-5) and the Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) were utilized to evaluate the participants' pre- and post-intervention assessment of PTSD and depression. The sample (N = 50) consisted of Black and Latino youth, mean age 14. Twenty-nine (58%) completed TF-CBT, and 82% met peer and case management goals. Youth who completed therapy showed significant improvement in both PTSD and depression symptoms at post-test. To our knowledge, this is the first study describing the implementation of home and community-based TF-CBT with peer support and case management. The study's limitations and need for further research are discussed.

Prevalence and Correlates of Dating Violence Victimization Among a U.S.-Based Sample of Autistic Youth.

Dating violence victimization is a pervasive public health problem that affects individuals of all age groups, but it holds particular significance during adolescence due to the potential long-term consequences on an individual's physical and psychological well-being, and potential influence on the health of adult relationships. Although there is now ample research on the topic of adolescent dating violence prevalence, risk factors, and consequences, to our knowledge, only four studies have assessed dating violence victimization among autistic youth. The current study was designed to investigate the prevalence of, and risk markers for, dating violence victimization among autistic youth. Specifically, the study had two aims: (a) to estimate the prevalence of dating violence victimization among autistic youth in a U.S.-based sample and (b) to identify correlates of dating violence for autistic youth, which include sociodemographic, mental health, and alcohol-related variables. We found that among participants who were in a romantic relationship in the past year, autistic participants were not any less likely to experience dating violence victimization compared to their non-autistic counterparts (40.7% for autistic youth vs. 38.0% for non-autistic youth). In addition, findings from the current study demonstrate the significant relationships between dating violence victimization and consequences of alcohol use, loneliness, and anxiety among autistic youth. Existing studies, in addition to the results of the current study, suggest the need for tailored dating violence prevention, support, and intervention to support the overall well-being of autistic youth.

Community-Based Violence Intervention in the Aftermath of Homicide: Community Violence Prevention Specialists’ Proximity to and Perspectives on Community Safety and Healing

Communities impacted by homicide endure profound loss and trauma, yet the voices of those intimately acquainted with navigating its aftermath are often overlooked and undervalued. In this study, we center the perspectives of community violence prevention specialists (CVPS) to understand the role of community-based violence intervention (CVI) in the aftermath of homicide and identify essential needs for fostering holistic and sustainable safety and healing following homicide. Qualitative data collected from in-person, semi-structured focus groups and interviews between March 2022 and April 2023 with 45 CVPS in Baltimore, Milwaukee, and Sacramento were coded and thematically analyzed. We identified various intersecting ways in which CVPS have unique proximity to and perspective on homicide via personal histories and community relationships, crisis response, preventative peacemaking and community healing, understanding violence drivers, CVI implementation challenges, and policy advocacy. Their perspectives reveal nuanced insights into the dynamics of homicide and its prevention. CVI plays a critical role in the aftermath of homicide, and CVPS have invaluable expertise navigating its multi-tiered dynamics, positioning them as strategic responders to homicide and as experts in identifying community needs and solutions specific to violence recovery. Their voices, work, and wellbeing deserve investment and close attention.

The Effectiveness of Intimate Partner Violence Interventions by the Police, Prosecutors, and Courts

The criminal justice system (CJS), comprising police, prosecutors, and courts, is pivotal in preventing intimate partner violence (IPV). However, challenges persist in effectively protecting victims, with high post-reporting recidivism rates. This systematic review aims to identify CJS interventions targeting IPV recurrence and to assess their effectiveness. Eleven articles meeting inclusion criteria were categorized into three themes: police (five articles), prosecutor (zero articles), and court (six articles). While overall findings lack conclusive evidence on intervention effectiveness, they suggest potential in reducing IPV recidivism among specific perpetrator sub-groups. The review underscores the need to consider contextual factors when evaluating interventions like arrest for IPV prevention. Challenges in identifying evidence-based practices within the CJS persist, necessitating ongoing evaluation research and investment in evidence-based strategies to inform policy and practice effectively.

Factors Associated with Interpersonal Violence and Depression Symptoms in Adolescent Students from Jalisco during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction. Violence is a major public health problem, which increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, affecting the physical and mental development of adolescents. Objective. To analyze factors associated with interpersonal violence and depressive symptoms in adolescent students in the south of Jalisco. Methods. Data were drawn from an online survey of 3,046 adolescents (ages 12-19) conducted between September and December 2021. The Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess depression symptoms. Self-reports of neglect, physical, psychological, sexual, and digital violence in the previous 12 months were analyzed. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models explored factors associated with depression and violence. Results. A total of 28.8% of the sample reported depression symptoms, 46.9% physical violence, 42.7% psychological violence, 34.9% neglect, 12.3% digital violence, and 5.2% sexual violence. The odds of depression were higher for those who had experienced physical violence (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.3 CI 95% [1.1-1.6]), psychological violence (aOR = 4.1 CI 95% [3.4-5.1]), digital violence (aOR = 2.0 CI 95% [1.5-2.5]); and neglect (aOR = 1.6 CI 95% [1.3-1.9]). Girls and adolescents aged 15-19 had higher odds of experiencing sexual, digital, and psychological violence. Poor school performance was associated with lower odds of reporting neglect (aOR = .6 CI 95% [.5-.8]) and sexual violence (aOR = .5 CI 95% [.3-.8]), while being employed was associated with reporting higher odds of physical violence (aOR = 1.5 CI 95% [1.3-1.8]) and neglect (aOR = 1.3 CI 95% [1.1-1.5]). Greater use of social media and videogames was associated with higher odds of physical, psychological, and digital violence. Conclusion. It is necessary to implement comprehensive public programs and policies to address violence and implement intersectoral social intervention strategies in mental health.

Are violence, harmful alcohol/substance use and poor mental health associated with increased genital inflammation?: A longitudinal cohort study with HIV-negative female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya.

Violence, alcohol use, substance use and poor mental health have been linked with increased HIV acquisition risk, and genital inflammation enhances HIV susceptibility. We examined whether past 6 month experience of these exposures was associated with increased genital inflammation, thereby providing a biological link between these exposures and HIV acquisition risk. The Maisha Fiti study was a longitudinal mixed-methods study of female sex workers in Nairobi, Kenya. Behavioural-biological surveys were conducted at baseline (June-December 2019) and endline (June 2020-March 2021). Analyses were restricted to HIV-negative women (n = 746). Women with raised levels of at least 5 of 9 genital inflammatory cytokines were defined as having genital inflammation. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate (i) baseline associations between genital inflammation and violence, harmful alcohol/substance use, and poor mental health, and (ii) longitudinal associations between these exposures at different survey rounds, and genital inflammation at follow-up. Inflammation data was available for 711 of 746 (95.3%) women at baseline; 351 (50.1%) had genital inflammation, as did 247 (46.7%) at follow-up. At baseline, 67.8% of women had experienced physical and/or sexual violence in the past 6 months, 33.9% had harmful alcohol use, 26.4% had harmful substance use, 25.5% had moderate/severe depression/anxiety, and 13.9% had post-traumatic stress disorder. In adjusted analyses, there was no evidence that these exposures were associated cross-sectionally or longitudinally with genital inflammation. We report no associations between past 6 month experience of violence, harmful alcohol/substance use, or poor mental health, and immune parameters previously associated with HIV risk. This suggests that the well-described epidemiological associations between these exposures and HIV acquisition do not appear to be mediated by genital immune changes, or that any such changes are relatively short-lived. High prevalences of these exposures suggest an urgent need for sex-worker specific violence, alcohol/substance use and mental health interventions.