[Domestic violence as a women's health issue--activities of health professionals in Thailand].
OBJECTIVE
This paper reports the results of a qualitative study on domestic violence (DV) and interventions against DV in Khon Kaen province in northeastern Thailand. We analyzed the roles of health professionals for identifying, treating and supporting abused women, and examined a network model of DV interventions in developing countries.


METHODS
We interviewed abused women, health professionals, staff of the government and legal authorities, community health workers and other relevant people in Khon Kaen city and surrounding areas. We analyzed the health consequences of DV, and the roles of health professionals and other actors regarding care and assistance for abused women. We also visited and observed homes of the victims and health facilities where those women were treated.


CONCLUSIONS
We interviewed 4 abused women in a slum area. One of the women was identified by a nurse of a nearby health center and a social worker when they visited homes in the area. Another woman was successfully supported by nurses of the health center, a community leader and a Buddhist monk. Health professionals played important roles in identifying, treating and protecting abused women. The Khon Kaen provincial hospital established an One-Stop Crisis Center (OSCC) to provide counseling, care and protection for physically or sexually abused women, with a team consisting of doctors, nurses and social workers who were trained in the care of abused women. The Nampol community hospital in a suburban area also established an OSCC to work together with health centers and communities for effective intervention. OSCC team members pointed out several problems: insufficient mental care, shortage of staff, and the difficulty of caring for women coming to the hospital at night or early in the morning. In Thailand, a legal framework against DV has yet to be established and government agencies are not greatly involved in DV interventions. Health professionals play leading roles in identifying, treating and supporting abused women in Thailand. It is important to provide relevant training for health professionals and to develop cooperation networks with government staff and legal authorities, community health workers, and community leaders. Legal frameworks for protecting and supporting DV victims are often insufficient in developing countries, while health care systems tend to be more reliable. Taking into account the social background, health professionals in developing countries can be expected to continue to play the most important role in looking after abused women.
Nagae
Miho
M
Department of International Health, Nagoya University School of Medicine.
Kitabayashi
Harumi
H
Aoyama
Atsuko
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D013785:Thailand; D016387:Women's Health