4143.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - Board 7

Abstract #27124

Women's perceptions on the role of health care providers in interpersonal violence: Going beyond treating injuries

Karen A McDonnell, PhD1, Andrea Gielen, ScD2, Patricia O'Campo, PhD3, and Jessica Burke, MHS1. (1) Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, , kmcdonne@jhsph.edu, (2) The Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy, The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University, Hampton House, Fifth floor, 624 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, (3) Department of Population and Family Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltmore, MD 21205

Objective: Intimate partner violence is a pressing epidemic in the United States. Abused women often seek care from health care professionals (HCP) for their injuries. This presentation will describe how women have used the health care system to deal with managing/ending their abuse and their perception of policy implications in the role that HCPs can take in asking patients about IPV. Methods: 611 lowincome women were recruited primarily from outpatient clinics. Qualitative and quantitative interview instruments were used to assess the extent to which women turned to the health care system for support in treating injuries sustained and in ending the abuse, and their opinions about if and how HCP could be helpful. Results: Analyses suggest that lowincome experience intolerable high rates of interpersonal violence; roughly 75% of the sample reported having been physically or sexually assaulted as an adult. Women were supportive of health care providers' (HCPs) taking a more active role in identifying and treating abused women. Women agreed that HCPs asking about abuse would "make getting help easier" and that "women would be glad that someone took an interest". Overall, women believed HCP's taking a role in asking women about abuse would not place women at increased risk of additional injuries. Conclusion: The numbers of women who have been abused is alarming. Women in our sample wanted their HCP to take a more active role in helping women who may be abused, which should be feasible, given the widespread availability of domestic violence training programs and screening protocols.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1.describe women's help seeking efforts in treating injuries sustained as a result of IPV 2. discuss low income women's perceptions and attitudes towards health care providers role in treating abused women.

Keywords: Violence, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA