Collette Kirwan
National University of Ireland, Ireland
Title: Who should screen for IPV in antenatal care setting? Findings from an Irish based case study
Biography
Biography: Collette Kirwan
Abstract
Violence against women is a fundamental violation of human rights and a serious international public health problem, that has irrevocable physical, psychological and sexual cost to women, their family and society in general (WHO, 2013). IPV, affecting up to 1 in 3 women (35%) (WHO, 2017) occurs across a lifespan and can start as soon as a person starts having intimate relationships (Niolon et al., 2017). Incidence of new cases and severity of pre-existing abuse has been found to increase up to 30% during pregnancy (HSE, 2011). Antenatal care is seen an opportunity to enquire routinely about intimate partner violence, because of the dual vulnerability of pregnancy (WHO, 2013).
Routine enquiry for IPV in antenatal care, currently advocated by national policy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in the Republic of Ireland, involves asking everywoman accessing antenatal care about their safety with their partner and in their home. As part of a case study exploring the factors that influence IPV screening in antenatal care, interviews were conducted with women accessing antenatal care services (40 persons) and healthcare professionals providing care (30 persons) in three maternity hospitals in Republic of Ireland. The aim of this presentation is to present the finding from these interviews on the preferred role, approach and characteristics of the healthcare professional to screen for IPV as part of antenatal care.