Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Six months after routine screening for intimate partner violence: attitude change, useful and adverse effects
Other Titles:	Women & health
Authors:	Poulos, R. G Man, W. Y. N Spangaro, J. M Zwi, Anthony B
Keywords:	Screening
Year:	2010
Publisher:	Routledge
Citation:	50 (2), March 2010
Notes:	General Overview: :Between 2001 and 2004, routine screening for intimate partner violence was implemented in all public health services in New South Wales, Australia. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of the routine screening, by assessing changes in women’s attitudes to and reports of domestic violence, six months after being screened; as well as their perceptions of the benefits and adverse effects of being screened. Methods: :The study was conducted in two regions in New South Wales and involved ten services (four antenatal, five substance abuse and one mental health service), all of which were in or close to Sydney. The final sample comprised 122 women who screened positive and 241 who screened negative. Women were surveyed six months after the screening took place, with women at the antenatal and substance abuse services completing a written version, and women at the mental health service interviewed by telephone. Results: :The study found a significant change in abused women’s attitudes to domestic violence six months after screening, including an increase from 80% to 96% of women agreeing that ‘Being hurt by a partner affects a woman’s health’. Furthermore, the number of women reporting current abuse fell, from 54% who screened positive at the time of screening to 35% six months later. Women’s perceptions of the benefits of screening were mixed, with 34% of those who screened positive reporting benefits, 27% undecided, and 6% stating that they experienced adverse effects. The main benefits were that screening prompted women to reassess their situation and made them feel less isolated, while the main adverse effects were that screening triggered negative emotions or raised concerns about potential retaliation. In addition, within the sample of 241 women who screened negative, 33 women participating in the study indicated that they had experienced intimate partner violence but had chosen not to disclose the abuse at the time of the screening. Of this group, 30% reported helpful outcomes from the screening. Discussion: :The changes in attitudes, reduction in the number of women reporting current violence, and perceived benefits of screening, including among women who did not disclose violence at the time, are promising. The findings regarding the adverse effects highlight the need for health workers to consider the potential distress caused by screening and to consider referral to counselling. Conclusion: :The authors conclude that screening women for intimate partner violence provides an opportunity to inform and shape attitudes towards abuse and is beneficial both for women who do and do not disclose violence. More studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings and further explore women’s experiences of the screening process.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/12282
ISSN:	0363-0242
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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