Violence against women and reproductive health: toward defining a role for reproductive health care services.
Since a large proportion of U.S. women receive reproductive health care services each year, reproductive health care settings offer an important opportunity to reach women who may be at risk of or experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Although screening women for IPV in clinical health care settings has been endorsed by national professional associations and organizations, scientific evidence suggests that opportunities for screening in reproductive health care settings are often missed. This commentary outlines what is known about screening and intervention for IPV in clinical health care settings, and points out areas that need greater attention. The ultimate goal of these recommendations is to increase the involvement of reproductive health care services in sensitive, appropriate, and effective care for women who may be at risk of or affected by IPV.
Parsons
L
L
Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27157, USA. lparsons@bgsm.edu
Goodwin
M M
MM
Petersen
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000523:psychology*; D014342:Truth Disclosure; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014932:Women's Health Services