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Abstract
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Aim To investigate the reasons why female victims of domestic violence do or do not discuss the matter with their GP.
Method During the period from October 2005 to October 2007 a total of 576 adult female victims of domestic violence participated in the study. They were asked whether or not they had discussed the matter with their GP and their reasons for discussing it or not. The victims who did not discuss the violence with their GP (‘non-talkers’) were asked if they had visited the GP for other complaints and whether they would have discussed the violence if the GP had asked them about it. Furthermore victims who did discuss the violence with their GP (‘talkers’) were asked whether the discussion was satisfactory.
Results Of the 576 participating women, 37% had talked about the domestic violence with their GP while 63% had not. The main reason for not bringing up the subject of domestic violence with the GP was shame. Approximately 60% of the ‘non-talkers’ visited their GP while the violence was taking place. This applied particularly to women who had long been victims or who were subjected to frequent violence (approximately 80%). More than 50% of the ‘non-talkers’ would have brought up the matter of domestic violence if their GP had asked about it. Of the ‘talkers’ almost 50% brought up the matter with their GP in the hope that they would be referred for further help. Three-quarters of the ‘talkers’ were satisfied with the contact they had had with the GP. A quarter of them were dissatisfied with the part played by the GP mainly because of lack of time or knowledge of the subject or because they felt they were not being taken seriously. Only 5% of the ‘talkers’ discussed the violence because the GP had taken the initiative.
Conclusion Many female victims of domestic violence visit their GP during the time when the violence is happening. A large proportion of these women do not take the initiative themselves to speak of the violence. Shame is the main reason for failing to bring up the matter with the GP. The women who do talk about the violence do so in order to be referred on. Thus GPs must include domestic violence more frequently in their differential diagnosis and ask more pointed questions about the matter. This can help victims to escape from their isolated position so that they can be given appropriate help. |