Screening for Abuse: Barriers and Opportunities

Abstract

Domestic abuse is the leading cause of injuries and death among women of childbearing age in the United States. The broad purpose of this research is to discover how pregnant women's psychological and behavioral responses to abuse affect birth outcomes. To select a diverse sample of women, we identified 8 prenatal care sites and completed the human subjects approval process with each. Rates of screening for abuse range from all but 12 women over a 2-1/2-year period at one site to no screening for abuse at another site. In this article, we will review pertinent literature and discuss the supports and barriers we observed when implementing an abuse screening program using the Abuse Assessment Screen, a well-tested and valid clinical instrument. Suggestions will be made for improving the screening rates at those sites where screening is absent or inconsistent.

Survival of intimate partner violence as experienced by women

“…Women tell caregivers about domestic abuse and violence if they are asked. Routine screening should be developed (Titus 1996, Waalen et al 2000, D'Avolio et al 2001.…”

Birth Outcomes and Maternal Morbidity in Abused Pregnant Women With Public Versus Private Health Insurance

“…We provided the forms for use in screening during the project and adapted them to institutional requirements. Despite frequent visits and support from research project staff, screening rates varied widely by agency, from 20% to 83%, as has been reported in other attempts to institute universal abuse screening (D'Avolio et al, 2001).…”

Intimate partner abuse factors associated with women’s health: a general population study

“…Screening for IPA in primary care settings is therefore receiving increased attention (Chamberlain & Perham‐Hester 2002). D’Avolio et al. (2001) emphasize that in prenatal care settings there are opportunities to routinely address concerns of women and their unborn babies and break the cycle of violence.…”