Fathering agency staff members' perspectives on domestic violence perpetration.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the perspectives of fathering staff regarding domestic violence (DV) perpetration.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 85 fathering staff members was conducted to identify behaviors and barriers regarding inquiry about DV perpetration.


RESULTS
Almost half (47.1%) of the surveyed staff reported never having identified DV perpetration. Routine inquiry was less likely if staff perceived low prevalence rates among their clients (odds ratio [OR] = 0.11, p = .001), did not have standard ways of asking (OR = 0.11, p < .001), or if they had never identified family violence before (OR = 0.07, p < .001). Increased years as a provider (OR = 6.62, p = .001) and DV training (OR = 7.29, p = .003) increased rates of DV perpetration inquiry.


CONCLUSIONS
Staff of fathering agencies do not routinely screen for DV perpetration likely due to the interplay between individual and agency-level barriers. Appropriate training interventions can address identified barriers.
Cronholm
Peter F
PF
Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104-4283, USA. peter.cronholm@uphs.upenn.edu
Ellison
Willie
W
Mazzella
Silvana
S
Witherspoon
Marcy
M
Lim
Joy Bowman
JB
Lapp
Tony
T
Coleman
Gilbert
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019058:Community Networks; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D016487:Parenting; D015143:Philadelphia; D055815:Young Adult