title: Addressing domestic violence in primary care: what the physician needs to know.
abstract: Domestic violence (DV) is quite prevalent and negatively impacts the health and mental wellbeing of those affected. Victims of DV are frequent users of health service, yet they are infrequently recognized. Physicians tend to treat the presenting complaints without addressing the root cause of the problem. Lack of knowledge on adequately managing cases of DV and on appropriate ways to help survivors is commonly presented as a barrier. This article presents the magnitude of the problem of DV in the Arab world, highlights the role of the primary care physician in addressing this problem, and provides practical steps that can guide the clinician in the Arab world in giving a comprehensive and culturally sensitive service to the survivors of DV.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon; ju00@aub.edu.lb.
authors.forename: Jinan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Usta
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Department, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taleb
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D018912:Arabs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000379:methods; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010819:Physician's Role; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012648:Self Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Arab world; domestic violence; managing survivors; mental health; physicians; primary care