Huisarts ziet geweld tegen vrouwen niet.

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Signalering partnergeweld in de medische praktijk

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Partnergeweld, depressie en angst om erover te praten.

Contains fulltext : 59119.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access

The doctor and the woman who "fell down the stairs". Family doctor's role in recognising and responding to intimate partner abuse.

Contains fulltext : 50993.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)RU Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, 14 november 2006Promotores : Lagro-Janssen, A.L.M., Wester, F.P.J.213 p

[Intimate partner abuse of women: identification of victims in medical practice],[Intimate partner abuse of women : identification of victims in medical practice]

Contains fulltext : 47964.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)Intimate partner abuse is world-wide much more prevalent than often suspected. Three female patients consulted their family doctor with a variety of complaints. A 53-year-old woman, mother of three grown-up children, and divorced a year ago, sought help after four days, for a large infected wound of her right hand. A 32-year-old single mother of a 2-year-old girl asked the practice assistant for an iteration of a tranquillizer because of tension headache. A 36-year-old divorced mother of three sons was sent by her company doctor to ask for a referral to a psychiatrist because of chronic fatigue. All three women appeared to have been severely abused by their partners, recently or in the past, and were reluctant to disclose the abuse. Two women were regular visitors of doctor's offices with diverse unspecific complaints. The third woman was a victim of sexual abuse as a child and was severely depressed. Active asking about experiences of intimate partner abuse helped these women to disclose the real nature of their problem. Important effect is that abused women can accept help and experience support to improve their situation. Doctors should suspect intimate partner abuse more often in patients who are heavy medical consumers, depressed or victims of sexual abuse in childhood. Single and divorced mothers can hide a history of abuse. Doctors should ask clear and specific questions about relationships and listen without passing judgement so as to help women to disclose abuse

Why abused women do not seek professional help: a qualitative study

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVE: We aimed to gain insight into the process of help seeking of abused women visiting their family physician (FP). SETTING: Family practice in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. METHOD: We used a qualitative method with interviews in a sample of 14 abused women, identified in an earlier cross-sectional survey with the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). This qualitative method with semi-structured interviews was used to obtain information on the process of seeking help. RESULTS: Unawareness of the impact of abuse on themselves and their children, unfamiliarity and negative experiences with professionals and fear for their partner hampers abused women to seek professional help. Our study reveals that abused women need informal support by family and friends to ask for professional support. Current health care does not fit into the needs of abused women during the abuse they want more practical support, after the abuse they need also psychological help. In our study, FPs and mothers pay less attention to the impact of witnessing violence on children. CONCLUSION: When women are unaware of the negative consequences of IPV, the physical and mental well-being of themselves and their children they do not ask for professional support. Abused women view informal support is important in the changing process. FPs should be trained to pay more attention to informal support and be alert to children's well-being

Support by trained mentor mothers for abused women: a promising intervention in primary care

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a major health problem and negatively affects the victim's mental and physical health. Evidence-based interventions in family practice are scarce. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate a low threshold home-visiting intervention for abused women provided by trained mentor mothers in family practice. The aim was to reduce exposure to IPV, symptoms of depression as well as to improve social support, participation in society and acceptance of mental health care. METHODS: A pre-post study of a 16-week mentoring intervention with identified abused women with children was conducted. After referral by a family doctor, a mentor mother visited the abused woman weekly. Primary outcomes are IPV assessed with the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS), depressive symptoms using the Symptom Checklist (SCL 90) and social support by the Utrecht Coping List. Secondary outcomes are analysed qualitatively: participation in society defined as employment and education and the acceptance of mental health care. RESULTS: At baseline, 63 out of 66 abused women were referred to mentor support. Forty-three participants completed the intervention programme. IPV decreased from CASt otal 46.7 (SD 24.7) to 9.0 (SD 9.1) (P </= 0.001) after the mentor mother support programme. Symptoms of depression decreased from 53.3 (SD 13.7) to 34.8 (SD 11.5) (P </= 0.001) and social support increased from 13.2 (SD 4.0) to 15.2 (SD 3.5) (P </= 0.001). Participation in society and the acceptance of mental health for mother and child improved. CONCLUSIONS: Sixteen weekly visits by trained mentor mothers are a promising intervention to decrease exposure to IPV and symptoms of depression, as well as to improve social support, participation in society and the acceptance of professional help for abused women and their children