Women's perceptions and experiences of routine enquiry for domestic violence in a maternity service.
OBJECTIVE
A qualitative study examining women's perceptions and experiences of routine enquiry for domestic violence in a maternity service.


METHODS
Purposive sampling was used to select a sub-sample from a larger group of women who participated in a domestic violence in pregnancy screening study undertaken at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals in London.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted in women's homes and general practitioner's surgeries.


METHODS
Ten women who experienced domestic violence in the last 12 months (including pregnancy), six women who experienced domestic violence in the last 12 months, but not in pregnancy, and 16 women with no history of domestic violence.


METHODS
Semi-structured interviews conducted during the postpartum period (up to 14 months).


METHODS
Women's views on the acceptability and relevance of routine enquiry for domestic violence.


RESULTS
Routine enquiry for domestic violence in maternity settings is acceptable to women if conducted in a safe, confidential environment by a trained health professional who is empathic and non-judgemental. The effectiveness of routine enquiry to elicit a history of domestic violence is influenced by factors such as lack of time, confidential consulting time, continuity of care, training and availability of resources.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research is needed to determine whether the use of on-site specialist domestic violence workers will increase midwives' ability to routinely enquire about domestic violence.
Bacchu
Loraine
L
St George's Hospital Medical School, Department of Forensic Psychiatry, London, UK.
Mezey
Gill
G
Bewley
Susan
S
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003219:Confidentiality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009721:Nurse Midwives; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012938:Social Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D014342:Truth Disclosure