Citation

Ferguson JE. J. Womens Health (Larchmont) 2016; 25(11): 1085.

Affiliation

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Virginia School of Medicine , Charlottesville, Virginia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/jwh.2016.6061

PMID

27622500

Abstract

In 2009, when I became president of the American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, the title of my presidential address was, “Why doesn't SOMEBODY do something?” In my oration, I outlined the plethora of research documenting the prevalence of intimate partner violence and the dire acute and chronic health consequences that ensue when a woman is exposed to abuse by her partner. I repeatedly pointed out that, for obstetricians and gynecologists, there can be dramatic consequences to the pregnant woman and her fetus when violence occurs during pregnancy, which makes it critical that we screen all women when we see them in the clinical setting, regardless of whether they show any signs or symptoms of abuse. It is an issue that has, sadly, become an important part of our roles as caregivers.

But even with the screening and intervention guidelines published by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in 2012, we also know that a wide range of barriers prevent this kind of care from happening, including our own feelings of discomfort, a lack of training around the subject of IPV, and a dearth of time and resources.

Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visitation Program (DOVE) sought to determine the effectiveness of perinatal home visitors using its IPV assessment and intervention protocols had in reducing violence against women experiencing abuse in the year before, during, and after pregnancy. The authors' findings —which should excite us all—showed a significant reduction in perinatal IPV over time...

Language: en