Issue Of Intimate Partner Violence Research Articles

Referral to Health and Social Services for Intimate Partner Violence in Health Care Settings

Efficient and coordinated health care responses to intimate partner violence (IPV) are essential, given that health care settings are a major entry point for abused women who seek professional services. However, there is a lack of evidence on how IPV referrals are effectively made within health care settings. In order to help program planners and providers across sectors to address the complex and chronic issue of IPV, a greater understanding of the post-IPV identification referral process is essential. A scoping review of the evidence on IPV referral programs and processes in health care settings was undertaken to provide an overview of the state of evidence and identify pertinent gaps in existing research. The scoping review identified 13 evaluative studies and 6 qualitative, primarily nonevaluative studies that examined IPV referral programs and processes. Evaluative studies involved a variety of designs and IPV referral outcomes. Rich descriptions of barriers and facilitators to seeking referrals by victims and making referrals by health care providers emerged from the evaluative and qualitative studies, but were explored more in depth in the qualitative studies. This scoping review provides guidance on what is currently known about IPV referral programs in health care settings and provides a starting point for further research on effectiveness of referral processes.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Communities’ Readiness for Intimate Partner Violence Prevention

Efforts to address intimate partner violence (IPV) in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities often rely on identifying what service providers can do to better reach and serve these populations. However, assessing a community's readiness in response to the issue of IPV in LGBT communities locates the issue where outcry is most likely to occur. Utilizing the Community Readiness Model in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities in two rural and two urban communities, this study revealed a low level of community readiness to address IPV. Only vague awareness of IPV exists in these sexual orientation, gender identity, and geographic communities. The study suggests specific next steps tailored to raise LGBT communities’ readiness to address IPV from within their own communities, starting at the current low level.

Intimate partner violence against women and its related immigration stressors in Pakistani immigrant families in Germany

This paper addresses the issue of intimate partner violence against women and its related immigration stressors in Pakistani immigrant families in Germany. Drawing on 32 in-depth interviews with Pakistani women in three cities in Germany, we found that psychological violence was the commonly reported violence among the study participants. The data showed that the process of immigration exacerbated tensions between spouses because of various immigration stressors such as threats to cultural identity, children’s socialization, and social isolation. In order to cope with the stressful spousal relations, women applied various indigenous strategies, but avoided seeking help from the host country’s formal care-providing institutions. This study also debunks some stereotypes and popular media clichés about the “victimhood of women from conservative developing countries” and provides an understanding of the issue of intimate partner violence within an immigration context. Further research with a larger sample will be helpful to understand immigration-induced stress and intimate partner violence in immigrant families.

Towards a Global Interdisciplinary Evidence-Informed Practice: Intimate Partner Violence in the Ethiopian Context

Background. Intimate partner violence is a global health issue and is associated with a range of health problems for women. Nurses, as the largest health workforce globally, are well positioned to provide care for abused women. Objectives. This nursing-led interdisciplinary project was conducted to understand the current state of knowledge about intimate partner violence in Ethiopia and make recommendations for country-specific activities to improve response to intimate partner violence through practice changes, education, and research. Methods. The project involved two phases: review of relevant literature and an interdisciplinary stakeholder forum and a meeting with nurse educators. Findings. The literature review identified the pervasiveness and complexity of intimate partner violence and its sociocultural determinants in the Ethiopian context. Two significant themes emerged from the forum and the meeting: the value of bringing multiple disciplines together to address the complex issue of intimate partner violence and the need for health care professionals to better understand their roles and responsibilities in actively addressing intimate partner violence. Conclusions. Further research on the topic is needed, including studies of prevention and resilience and “best practices” for education and intervention. Interdisciplinary and international research networks can support local efforts to address and prevent intimate partner violence.

Gender, alcohol and intimate partner violence: how to respond in primary care?

PurposeThis paper's aim is to provide an overview of how to respond to alcohol use/abuse and intimate partner violence for men and women attending primary care.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes the role of family practitioners in identifying patients in primary care who have dual problems of substance use and intimate partner violence.FindingsPrimary care is a potential site of early intervention using brief counselling techniques for male perpetrators and female victims of intimate partner violence who also have hazardous or harmful drinking.Practical implicationsPractitioners should be aware of the overlap between these two social public health problems and how to respond.Originality/valuePractitioners often do not identify the hidden issue of intimate partner violence.

Affective awareness in parenting of fathers with co‐occurring substance abuse and intimate partner violence

Few studies have examined the parenting of fathers with co-occurring Substance Abuse (SA) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) problems. None have specifically interviewed men with these co-occurring issues using qualitative methods about their reflective functioning in relation to their children. This qualitative study was designed to provide evidence of the reflective capacity of fathers with co-occurring SA and IPV. To assess this, men were asked to describe examples of negative emotions they experienced as parents and how they perceived their children responded to those emotions. Forty fathers with co-occurring SA and IPV were interviewed using the Revised Parent Development Interview. Interviews were coded for reflective functioning and for themes that emerged related to angry and guilty feelings these fathers experienced as parents. Overall, fathers in the sample had a very limited capacity to think about the thoughts and feelings of their children. The desire to spend more time with their child and an inability to provide financially were two common themes. Anger toward the child's mother for not providing adequate care and a focus on shielding the child from his anger were also reported frequently. Fathers did not report feelings of guilt related to their substance use or aggression in their relationships. This paper is one of the first to explore reflective functioning of fathers with co-occurring IPV and SA. These findings are discussed in relation to their implications for intervention with fathers with co-occurring SA and IPV issues.

Maternal Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and under-Five Children Mortality in Western Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study

This study aimed to compare the association between maternal intimate partner violence and under-five mortality. Matched case-control study was conducted from May to June 2011. A sample of 286 cases and 572 controls were randomly selected from East Wollega Zone, West Ethiopia. Among cases, 72.7% ever experienced controlling behaviors when compared to 62.4% for controls. All forms of maternal intimate partner violence were experienced by 61.9% of cases and 50.9% of controls. Controlling behavior in marriage and experiences of all forms of intimate partner violence during lifetime were more than four [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97-18.89), and two (AOR = 2.55, 95% CI 1.66-3.92) times as likely to be associated with under-five mortality. Maternal intimate partner violence victimization is strongly associated with under-five mortality. Involving men in maternal and child health programs could be one strategy to address the issue of intimate partner violence against women.

Intimate Partner Violence and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Young Adult Women

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common among young adult relationships, and is associated with significant morbidity, including sexually transmitted infections (STI). This study measured the association between IPV victimization and perpetration and prevalent STIs and STI-risk behaviors among a sample of young women. This analysis uses wave 3 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health and was restricted to the 3548 women who reported on a sexual relationship that occurred in the previous 3 months and agreed to STI testing. A multivariate random effects model was used to determine associations between STI and STI-risk behaviors and IPV. The IPV prevalence over the past year was 32%-3% victim-only, 12% perpetrator-only, and 17% reciprocal. The STI prevalence was 7.1%. Overall, 17% of participants reported partner concurrency and 32% reported condom use at last vaginal intercourse. In multivariate analysis, victim-only and reciprocal IPV were associated with not reporting condom use at last vaginal intercourse. Perpetrator-only, victim-only, and reciprocal IPV were associated with partner concurrency. Victim-only IPV was associated with a higher likelihood of having a prevalent STI (odds ratio: 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.0-4.2). This analysis adds to the growing body of literature that suggests that female IPV victims have a higher STI prevalence, as well as a higher prevalence of STI-risk behaviors, compared with women in nonviolent relationships. Women in violent relationships should be considered for STI screening in clinics, and IPV issues should be addressed in STI prevention messages, given its impact on risk for STI acquisition.

Exploring News Coverage of Femicide: Does Reporting the News Add Insult to Injury?

The news media help shape society’s perception of social problems as well as public opinion of victims and offenders. Currently, there is extensive research devoted to the media’s portrayal of violence against women but very little examination of femicide (for purposes of this research, defined as the murder of female intimate partners). Using newspaper coverage of femicide cases across the state of North Carolina over a 6-year period (995 articles representing 299 cases), the current study examines the news media’s use of direct and indirect victim-blaming language, the sources cited in femicide reporting, and whether femicide cases are contextualized as an individual problem or within the broader social issue of intimate partner violence (IPV). Consistent with previous research, findings indicate that public sources (i.e., law enforcement) were the most commonly cited sources of information in news coverage of femicide compared to private sources (i.e., friends and family); however, domestic violence experts are cited more often than in prior studies. In addition, direct and indirect victim-blaming language is not as pervasive as previous research has suggested. Finally, the percentage of articles that contextualized the femicide as IPV is lower than that found in prior studies of femicide. Implications of these findings and future research are discussed.

Racial Differences in Treatment Effect among Men in a Substance Abuse and Domestic Violence Program

Background: It isunclear whether racial differences in treatment effect exist for individuals in substance abuse and domestic violence programs. Objectives: This study examined racial differences in treatment effect among substance dependent Caucasian and African-American male intimate partner violence (IPV) offenders court mandated to an integrated substance abuse and domestic violence treatment. Methods: From baseline to completion of treatment (week 12), 75 participants (39 Caucasian; 36 African-American) were assessed on demographics, substance use, legal characteristics, and use of violence (physical, verbal, and psychological). Results: African-American men served more months incarcerated in their life than Caucasian men. Both groups showed decreases in their use of physical violence and alcohol abuse over treatment. Caucasian men also showed a decrease in their use of verbal abuse. Conclusions and Scientific Significance: At treatment completion, both groups showed a reduction in physical abuse and alcohol abuse. Caucasian men showed a reduction in their use of verbal abuse, but African-American men did not. Substance dependent African-American male IPV offenders may benefit from interventions that thoroughly target communication skills in addition to issues of substance abuse and IPV to reduce use of verbal abuse and improve treatment outcomes among African American men.

Teachers training needs on intimate partner violence (IPV)

The objectives of the study are related to healthcare and social care teachers training needs on the issue of intimate partner violence. The teachers training needs on IPV in Bulgaria...

Bridging Pastoral Counseling and Social Work Practice: An Exploratory Study of Pastors' Perceptions of and Responses to Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence is a prevalent yet highly underreported issue in the United States. Religious leaders are in a key position to help victims, particularly those who will not disclose the abuse to secular professionals such as police officers, doctors, and social workers. Church leaders tend to have close and trusting relationships, access to families' homes, are familiar with families' histories, and many times are the support to which victims turn. This study examines nine protestant pastors' perceptions of and responses to intimate partner violence as an exploratory study. Data were collected and analyzed through semistructured interviews and Strauss and Corbin's Grounded Theory. The findings illustrated that the majority of pastors perceive intimate partner violence as occurring to middle-aged women and being physical, emotional, and verbal in nature. The pastors reported that they assess, refer, and counsel the victims (and sometimes the couple together) and support divorce if necessary. The participants' avoidance toward intimate partner violence issues among their congregants were connected to their lack of training and access to resources. Implications for merging victim empowering counseling and pastoral counseling are discussed.

Intimate Partner Violence Screening and Pregnant Latinas

Little is known about factors associated with health care screening of intimate partner violence (IPV) for Latinas during pregnancy. This study builds on current research examining IPV-associated outcomes among Latinas by analyzing 210 pregnant Latina responses to a patient survey. A multivariate logistic regression model examined factors associated with being screened for IPV. One-third of pregnant women reported being screened for IPV. Factors related to being screened for IPV are reported and did not match those associated with having experienced IPV. While most pregnant Latinas were not screened for IPV, having systematic processes in place for IPV screening and fostering good patient-provider communication may facilitate identification of IPV. Having a greater awareness of the risk factors associated with IPV may also provide cues for clinicians to better address the issue of IPV.

Improving Services to African American Survivors of IPV

Researchers have found that many services designed to assist survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) take a mainstream, color-blind approach to their interventions. Several authors have indicated a need for culturally specific IPV interventions to adequately address the issue of IPV within the African American community. This exploratory study was designed to ascertain, from African American survivors, what their experiences were with mainstream IPV interventions and how their experience with a culturally specific domestic violence agency was different from those experiences. Overall, women described mostly problematic experiences with mainstream services and positive experiences with the culturally specific agency.

The Benefits of a Culturally Specific Intimate Partner Violence Intervention for African American Survivors

In light of evidence and theorization of culturally specific factors contributing to intimate partner violence (IPV) within African American relationships and the Eurocentric approach many mainstream agencies take to service delivery, researchers have indicated a need for culturally appropriate IPV interventions for African American survivors to adequately address the issue of IPV within this community. The purpose of the current study was to qualitatively investigate how helpful a culturally specific IPV program, which targets the African American community, has been to African American female survivors. Results suggest that this culturally specific agency is successfully meeting the needs of these survivors.

Impact of Participation in a Community-Based Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Program on Medical Students: A Multi-Center Study

Physicians are generally poorly trained to recognize, treat or refer adolescents at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Participation in community programs may improve medical students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes about IPV prevention. To determine whether the experience of serving as educators in a community-based adolescent IPV prevention program improves medical students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward victims of IPV, beyond that of didactic training. One hundred and seventeen students attending 4 medical schools. Students were randomly assigned to didactic training in adolescent IPV prevention with or without participation as educators in a community-based adolescent IPV prevention program. Students assigned to didactic training alone served as community educators after the study was completed. Knowledge, self-assessment of skills and attitudes about intimate partner violence and future plans to pursue outreach work. The baseline mean knowledge score of 10.25 improved to 21.64 after didactic training (p </= .001). Medical students in the "didactic plus outreach" group demonstrated higher levels of confidence in their ability to address issues of intimate partner violence, (mean = 41.91) than did students in the "didactic only" group (mean = 38.94) after controlling for initial levels of confidence (p </= .002). Experience as educators in a community-based program to prevent adolescent IPV improved medical students' confidence and attitudes in recognizing and taking action in situations of adolescent IPV, whereas participation in didactic training alone significantly improved students' knowledge.

Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Unmet Need for Mental Health Care: Results From the NSDUH

Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Unmet Need for Mental Health Care: Results From the NSDUH

Clinical and Personal Intimate Partner Violence Training Experiences of U.S. Medical Students

To learn about U.S. medical students' attitudes, experiences, and practices regarding intimate partner violence (IPV). In a sample reflective of all U.S. medical schools, we surveyed the class of 2003 in 16 U.S. medical schools at three different times in their training. A total of 2316 medical students responded, for a response rate of 80%. By senior year, although 91% of medical students reported receiving at least some training in discussing IPV, only one fifth reported extensive training. Although 73% of students entering wards thought IPV was highly important for physicians to discuss with patients, only 55% of students entering wards, decreasing to 35% of seniors, thought IPV would be highly relevant to their own practice. Only 55% of seniors reported talking with general medicine patients at least sometimes about IPV. Greater frequency of discussing IPV for seniors was associated with being a woman (60% vs. 50% for men, p = 0.006), self-designating as politically moderate or liberal (p = 0.0008), and thinking (on entering wards) that it was highly important for physicians to talk to patients about IPV (p = 0.0002). Perceived relevance of discussing domestic violence to intended practice was substantially higher among women, underrepresented minorities, those having a personal or family history of domestic violence, and those categorizing themselves as politically liberal or very liberal. Among seniors, the prevalence of reporting a personal history of IPV was 3% for women and 1% for men; 12% of women and 7% of men reported a family or personal IPV history. Despite national interest in IPV issues, efforts in U.S. medical schools to increase IPV screening and prevention have not achieved saturation. These gaps in IPV instruction in medical schools are a concern because studies have reported that physicians who receive IPV education training are significantly more likely to screen for it.

Urban children's perceptions of violence.

To determine how preadolescent urban children conceptualize and experience violence in their lives. This qualitative study reports the results of focus groups designed to examine perceptions of violence among preadolescent urban children. Program directors were trained to conduct the sessions using a semistructured script. All groups were audiotaped or videotaped. The summaries were analyzed for recurring themes. A community-based visual arts program for children designed to be a secondary violence-prevention program. There were 12 focus groups of volunteer participants. Each consisted of 3 to 6 children aged 8 to 12 years, separated by sex and age. Fifty children participated: 27 boys and 23 girls. These children defined violence in a broader way than most adults would. Not only did the children identify shootings and stabbings as examples of violence, but they also considered violence to be any act that might hurt someone's feelings (such as cheating and lying) or any act accompanying violence (such as cursing and yelling). The boys and girls were very similar in their views except regarding the issue of intimate-partner violence. The girls were almost universally concerned about this issue, but the boys seemed noticeably unaware that intimate-partner violence was considered a form of violence. Most children felt safe at home, and almost no child felt safe at school. They looked to trusted adults to keep them safe. Future investigators measuring the effect of violence-prevention activities on preteen children should be aware that their definition of violence may differ from that of young children and should be cognizant of potential sex differences, especially around the topic of intimate-partner violence. Those designing violence-prevention programs for children should consider engaging adult family members as well because children usually turn to them for safety.

A Medical Library and American Indian Health Board Partnership

Community outreach and collaboration are always goals for librarians and librarianship. This paper discusses the partnership initiated between the Lovelace Health Systems Medical Library (LHS) and the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, Inc. (AAIHB) whose objective was to develop a relevant literature database specifically addressing the issue of intimate partner violence (IPV) in American Indian communities. A primary challenge of this project was to provide information across the continuum of available technology resources.