Public health nurses' responses to domestic violence: A report from the enhanced domestic abuse intervention project

Citation
Mf. Shepard et al., Public health nurses' responses to domestic violence: A report from the enhanced domestic abuse intervention project, PUBL HEAL N, 16(5), 1999, pp. 359-366
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Public Health & Health Care Science
Journal title
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING
ISSN journal
07371209 → ACNP
Volume
16
Issue
5
Year of publication
1999
Pages
359 - 366
Database
ISI
SICI code
0737-1209(199910)16:5<359:PHNRTD>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
Public health nurses (PHNs) can play an important role in the detection of domestic violence. This study examines whether the introduction of a domest ic violence assessment protocol by public health nurses in a maternal and c hild health visiting program increases the identification and referral rate s of women experiencing domestic violence. Data collected from case files d uring the baseline year prior to the initiation of the protocol were compar ed to case file information after the protocol had been implemented. When t he protocol was used, there was a higher rate of identification, although t he difference was not statistically significant. Significantly more women, however, were provided with information about domestic violence resources a fter the protocol was in place, and significantly more women were referred to services in the second year after the protocol had been implemented. Thi s study provides support for the use of a domestic violence protocol to imp rove the public health nursing response to domestic violence.