title: Intimate partner abuse: identifying, caring for and helping women in healthcare settings.
abstract: Intimate partner abuse (IPA) is experienced by around one in three women at some stage during their lifetime, and has serious health consequences. This paper reviews how clinicians can best identify when a woman is experiencing IPA, and provide appropriate care and assistance. Research supports use of sensitive inquiry about IPA when conditions or situations that can be associated with IPA are present. Subsequent responses recommended include validation, affirmation and support, safety assessment and planning (both for the woman and any children), counseling and referral to IPA specialist services. Better training is needed for clinicians in these areas. Future research is needed to compare identification methods, and further assess psychological, advocacy and safety planning interventions, primary prevention and perpetrator interventions.
authors.affiliation: General Practice & Primary Care Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC 3053, Australia.
authors.forename: Jodie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valpied
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hegarty
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services
keywords: domestic violence; healthcare settings; identification; intervention; intimate partner abuse; intimate partner violence; primary healthcare; screening; women's health