THE DIVERSE FACES OF VIOLENCE - MINORITY WOMEN AND DOMESTIC ABUSE

In research and clinical practice, the failure to detect and/or elicit information about domestic abuse is exacerbated by social, economic, and cultural factors. Because domestic violence cannot be separated fr om the cultural and social context in which it occurs, such factors mu st be integrated into research studies and the development of interven tions. The National Institutes of Health's expanded guidelines on the inclusion in its clinical trials of women from all ethnic and racial b ackgrounds, along with an increased recognition of the importance of s ocioeconomic and psychosocial factors in health and disease, has stren gthened efforts to improve prove understanding of domestic violence in diverse communities. The involvement of researchers from minority com munities is crucial to the success of such efforts. Study of the relat ionships among race, ethnicity, culture, and domestic violence must be fully incorporated into medical school curricula to sensitize student s and enable them to develop the skills needed to detect more effectiv ely deal with, and ultimately prevent, family and intimate violence.