Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence:
Applying Best Practice Guidelines

Introduction

Introduction

Defining the Problem

Statistics

Identifying Abuse

Consequence of Violence

Risk Factors for Victimization and Preparation

Barriers to Identifcation of Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence

Best Practice Guidelines for Intimate Partner Violence/Domestic Violence

Safety Planning

Conclusion

Appendicies
Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
Appendix E

Resources

Other Websites of Interest

References

Test

Exit to Menu



Case Study 1. Roseanne

Roseanne is rushing to get ready for work. She finishes helping 3 year old Matthew get dressed and gives him some breakfast. She grabs the baby from her crib and a shooting pain stabs her in the right shoulder. With the pain comes the memory of last night. Roseanne's husband Jack got home late last night-he had been drinking and he was in a foul mood. He finally went to bed-but not before berating Roseanne, as usual, and slapping and punching her multiple times. She has bruises on her face that her makeup can barely hide. She touches up her makeup one last time before dropping off both Matthew and the baby with her mother.

Her mother knows that its been difficult for Roseanne, but she doesn't know how bad its gotten. Since Roseanne was pregnant with 5 month old Tara, she has been punched, kicked and sexually victimized repeatedly by her husband. It has become a routine part of her life. While driving to work, Roseanne starts crying. She tries to reapply some makeup to cover the bruises as she rushes onto the unit. Roseanne is a neonatal nurse.

Roseanne is like so many American women, she is the victim of intimate partner violence/domestic violence (IPV/DV). IPV/DV is actual or threatened physical or sexual violence or psychological and emotional abuse directed toward a spouse, ex-spouse, current or significant other, or current or former dating partner. Intimate partners may be heterosexual or of the same sex; sexual intimacy is not a requirement in this definition (CDC, 2002).

Up to 25 percent of U.S. women have been the victims of IPV/DV, which can result in immediate injury and/or chronic health problems. When victims seek medical care, clinicians often do not screen for and identify IPV/DV. In fact, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force indicates that very few research studies exist that can help guide clinicians on how to screen for IPV/DV and manage care for identified victims. Once identified, healthcare providers need to be able to refer victims to programs and counseling that will be effective in helping them end the violence in their lives. Assessing the quality and effectiveness of these programs, however, has been difficult (Kass-Bartlemes, 2004).

Continue on to Defining the Problem