[Detection of domestic violence against women. Survey in a primary health care clinic].
According to Pan American Health Organization nearly 50% of women suffer chronic domestic violence in Latin America. We evaluated the prevalence of gender based violence (GBV) in women assisted in a University Outpatient Clinic in Buenos Aires. We used a survey originally developed by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in Spanish. The survey was distributed to a consecutive sample of women more than 18 years of age who attended the clinic. Participants were randomized to fill out the questionnaire anonymously (self-administered) or during an interview with the physician in order to test the sensitivity of these two different modalities of data collection. Of 360 eligible women 270, (75%) completed the questionnaire. The respondents had a median age of 45.4 years, only 33% had more than 7 years of formal education and 48% did not live with a partner. Of the 270 respondents, 120 (44%) women reported mistreatment at least once during their lifetime. Of these, 108 (40%) reported psychological GBV, 53 physical GBV and 45 reported sexual GBV. Most of the respondents suffered more than one type of violence. 46 (17%) women reported sexual abuse during childhood, 219 (81%) of participants never had been asked by their physician about domestic violence. Women interviewed by the physician reported GBV more frequently than those completing the self-administered survey (p <0.005). The survey developed by the IPPF is considered a useful tool for screening in a clinical setting.
Pontecorvo
Carla
C
Programa de Medicina Interna General, Departamento de Medicina, Hospital de Clinicas José de San Martin, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Mejía
Raúl
R
Aleman
María
M
Vidal
Alfredo
A
Majdalani
María Pia
MP
Fayanás
Roberto
R
Fernández
Alicia
A
Pérez Stable
Eliseo J
EJ
D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires