Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy Interventions

Use Your RADAR
Routinely screen every patient
Ask directly, kindly, nonjudgmentally
Document your findings
Assess the patient's safety
Review options and provide referrals
(Young & McFarlane, 1991)


Ask Direct Questions
Do not Ask
Ask questions in private "Why don't you just leave?"
Ask questions away from dad, family and friends "What did you do to make him/her so angry?"
Ensure confidentiality "Why do you go back?"
"Do you feel that you or your baby will be at risk for abuse when you go home?"
"Have you been hit, slapped, kicked or otherwise physically hurt by someone?"		 "Why are you telling this to me?"
(American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists[ACOG], 2002)


What to Do When the Women Denies the Abuse
*Always chart the women's response, even if the answer is "no"
*By asking these questions, it may help the women think about disclosing the abuse
*By asking these questions, the nurse is indicating that they are open to discuss this topic
*Remember that the women will choose when she will disclose the abuse
(ACOG, 2002)


What to Do When the Women Confirms the Abuse

Things that Nurses Can Say
*"This is not your fault"
*"No one deserves to be treated this way"
*"I am sorry that you have been hurt"
*"Do you want to talk about it?"
*"I am concerned about your safety (and that of your children)"
*"Help is available to you"
Document the Findings
*In the patient's chart
*In the patient's own words
*With a body map
*With photographs, if possible
*On the specific details

Explain What Mom's Choices Are
*Stay with the abusive partner and make a safety plan
*Remove the abusive partner through arresting him or court orders
*Mom leaves temporaily or permanently
(ACOG, 2002)


SAFETY PLAN
*Bags are packed ahead of time
*Identification and cash are put somewhere and is ready to go
*Hide an extra set of car and house keys
*Tell a trusted friend or family memebr who is aware of the abuse and what to expect. Also make up a code which acts as a signal indicating when the mom is leaving the abuser.
*"Plan where to go"
(McFarlane, Parker, Soeken, Silva & Reel, 1998)


Inform the Victim of the Available Resources and Make Referrals
Psychologists
Social Workers
Victim assistance programs
Police and Legal Aid
Local Shelters
Hospital Emergency departments
Mental health services
Battered Women Support Services
Victim LINK: 1-800-563-0808
*Operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week for victims of abuse of family and sexual abuse
911
(Wathen & MacMillian, 2003)


References

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2002). Evaluating domestic violence programs. Retrieved November 25, 2003, from http://www.ahrq.gov/research/domesticviol/

Wathen, C. N. & MacMillian, H. L. (2003). Prevention of violence against women: Recommendation statement from the Canadian Task Force on preventive health care [Electronic version]. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 169(6), 582 - 584.

Young, A. & McFarlane, J. (1991). Preventing abuse during pregnancy: A national educational model for health providers. Journal of Nursing Education 30(5), 202-206

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Compiled by Cindy Lam
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