This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Siegel, R. M.
Right arrow Articles by Boat, B. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Siegel, R. M.
Right arrow Articles by Boat, B. W.
Related Collections
Right arrow Office Practice

PEDIATRICS Vol. 104 No. 4 October 1999, pp. 874-877

Screening for Domestic Violence in the Community Pediatric Setting

Received Dec 14, 1998; accepted Mar 11, 1999.

Robert M. Siegel*, Dagger , Teresa D. Hill§, Vicki A. Henderson*, Heather M. Ernst*, and Barbara W. Boatparallel

From the * Northern Kentucky Children's Advocacy Center, the St Luke Hospitals, Bellevue, Kentucky; the Dagger  Cincinnati Pediatric Research Group, Division of Community and General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; the § Catholic Health Initiatives, Louisville, Kentucky; and the parallel  Division of Child Psychiatry, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Objective.  Children exposed to domestic violence (DV) can experience a variety of adverse effects such as behavior disorders, developmental delay, and child abuse. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that all pediatricians incorporate screening for DV as a part of anticipatory guidance. To date, however, there is little information on how likely women are to disclose DV or whether there are any benefits to screening in the pediatric office setting. The purpose of our pilot study was to gain an understanding of whether screening for DV in the pediatric office setting could be helpful to abused women and their children.

Methods.  During a 3-month period, 92% of the women who accompanied their children for a well-child visit to a hospital-based suburban pediatrician were asked about violence in the home with a six-question screening tool.

Results.  Of the 154 women screened, 47 (31%) revealed DV at some time in their lives. Twenty-five women (17%) reported DV within the past 2 years and were reported to the mandated state agency. There were 5 episodes of child abuse reported of which two had not been previously reported. Interestingly, there were 5 women injured during their most recent pregnancy and who had separated from their abusive partner, but no legal action had been taken to protect them from their partner's return. There was no significant difference in the incidence of DV reported in families with Medicaid (37%) versus private insurance (20%). Before routine DV screening in our office, only one previous DV report had been made in 4 years.

Conclusions.  Our preliminary results suggest that many women will reveal DV when screened in the pediatric office setting. Also, there is a subgroup of women, those with young children who have recently separated from their partners, who may particularly benefit from DV screening.  Key words:  domestic violence, child abuse, screening.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 PediatricsHome page
H. Dubowitz, L. Prescott, S. Feigelman, W. Lane, and J. Kim
Screening for Intimate Partner Violence in a Pediatric Primary Care Clinic
Pediatrics, January 1, 2008; 121(1): e85 - e91.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
A. Garg, A. M. Butz, P. H. Dworkin, R. A. Lewis, R. E. Thompson, and J. R. Serwint
Improving the Management of Family Psychosocial Problems at Low-Income Children's Well-Child Care Visits: The WE CARE Project
Pediatrics, September 1, 2007; 120(3): 547 - 558.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Interpers ViolenceHome page
J. Thackeray, S. Stelzner, S. M. Downs, and C. Miller
Screening for Intimate Partner Violence: The Impact of Screener and Screening Environment on Victim Comfort
J Interpers Violence, June 1, 2007; 22(6): 659 - 670.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
A. L. Hazen, C. D. Connelly, K. J. Kelleher, R. P. Barth, and J. A. Landsverk
Female Caregivers' Experiences With Intimate Partner Violence and Behavior Problems in Children Investigated as Victims of Maltreatment
Pediatrics, January 1, 2006; 117(1): 99 - 109.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
M. J. Trowbridge, R. D. Sege, L. Olson, K. O'Connor, E. Flaherty, and H. Spivak
Intentional Injury Management and Prevention in Pediatric Practice: Results From 1998 and 2003 American Academy of Pediatrics Periodic Surveys
Pediatrics, October 1, 2005; 116(4): 996 - 1000.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Intern MedHome page
M. R. Gerber, M. L. Ganz, E. Lichter, C. M. Williams, and L. A. McCloskey
Adverse Health Behaviors and the Detection of Partner Violence by Clinicians
Arch Intern Med, May 9, 2005; 165(9): 1016 - 1021.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
T. Zink, R. Siegel, L. Chen, L. Levin, S. Pabst, and F. Putnam
Physician Knowledge and Management of Children Exposed to Domestic Violence in Ohio: A Comparison of Pediatricians and Family Physicians
Clinical Pediatrics, April 1, 2005; 44(3): 211 - 219.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
T. G. Holtrop, H. Fischer, S. M. Gray, K. Barry, T. Bryant, and W. Du
Screening for Domestic Violence in a General Pediatric Clinic: Be Prepared!
Pediatrics, November 1, 2004; 114(5): 1253 - 1257.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
J. Anderst, T. D. Hill, and R. M. Siegel
A Comparison of Domestic Violence Screening Methods in a Pediatric Office
Clinical Pediatrics, January 1, 2004; 43(1): 103 - 105.
[PDF]

Home page
 CLIN PEDIATRHome page
R. M. Siegel, E. C. Joseph, S. A. Routh, S. G. Mendel, E. Jones, R. B. Ramesh, and T. D. Hill
Screening for Domestic Violence in the Pediatric Office: A Multipractice Experience
Clinical Pediatrics, September 1, 2003; 42(7): 599 - 602.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Interpers ViolenceHome page
T. M. Zink and J. Jacobson
Screening for Intimate Partner Violence when Children are Present: The Victim's Perspective
J Interpers Violence, August 1, 2003; 18(8): 872 - 890.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
T. Zink, N. Elder, and J. Jacobson
How Children Affect the Mother/Victim's Process in Intimate Partner Violence
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 2003; 157(6): 587 - 592.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
P. Klass
Pediatrics by the Book: Pediatricians and Literacy Promotion
Pediatrics, November 1, 2002; 110(5): 989 - 995.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
I. W. Borowsky and M. Ireland
Parental Screening for Intimate Partner Violence by Pediatricians and Family Physicians
Pediatrics, September 1, 2002; 110(3): 509 - 516.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
G. W. Parkinson, R. C. Adams, and F. G. Emerling
Maternal Domestic Violence Screening in an Office-Based Pediatric Practice
Pediatrics, September 1, 2001; 108(3): e43 - 43.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
M. J. Erickson, T. D. Hill, and R. M. Siegel
Barriers to Domestic Violence Screening in the Pediatric Setting
Pediatrics, July 1, 2001; 108(1): 98 - 102.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
C. Bethell, C. Peck, and E. Schor
Assessing Health System Provision of Well-Child Care: The Promoting Healthy Development Survey
Pediatrics, May 1, 2001; 107(5): 1084 - 1094.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 AAP NewsHome page
T. Nugent
Pediatrician screening can help stem domestic violence
AAP News, April 19, 2001; 18(1): 24 - 24.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
H. Dubowitz, M. M. Black, M. A. Kerr, J. M. Hussey, T. M. Morrel, M. D. Everson, and R. H. Starr Jr
Type and Timing of Mothers' Victimization: Effects on Mothers and Children
Pediatrics, April 1, 2001; 107(4): 728 - 735.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
R. F. Anda, V. J. Felitti, D. P. Chapman, J. B. Croft, D. F. Williamson, J. Santelli, P. M. Dietz, and J. S. Marks
Abused Boys, Battered Mothers, and Male Involvement in Teen Pregnancy
Pediatrics, February 1, 2001; 107(2): 19e - 19.
[Abstract] [Full Text]

Home page
 CMAJHome page
E. Weir
Wife assault in Canada
Can. Med. Assoc. J., August 1, 2000; 163(3): 328 - 328.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
R. J. Wright
Identification of Domestic Violence in the Community Pediatric Setting: Need to Protect Mothers and Children
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, May 1, 2000; 154(5): 431 - 433.
[Full Text] [PDF]