Impact of domestic violence against pregnant women in Minia governorate, Egypt: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Domestic violence is a common problem that is related to many serious short-term and long-term health hazards around the world. METHODS: During obtaining the medical history from the participants, the questions used to assess the abuse were derived from the widely used Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS). Potential risk factors including a variety of socio-demographic and reproductive health-relation indicators were assessed. The influence of violence on the pregnancy outcome was determined by the continuous follow-up till giving birth. RESULTS: 513 pregnant women were included. The prevalence of violence among them was 50.8%. The prevalence of physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse was 30.2, 20, 41.7, and 45.4% respectively. Exposure to violence during pregnancy had significant effects on the women and their pregnancy outcome in the form of development of vaginal infection (P-value =0.036), vaginal bleeding (P-value = 0.008), preterm labour (P-value = 0.003), premature rupture of membrane (P-value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Violence against pregnant women in Minia Governorate, Egypt is common especially emotional violence and it has many adverse effects on the women and their pregnancy outcome. One of the most important risk factors is the fear of the husband which makes violence a continuous vicious circle.

High sensitivity and specificity screening for clinically significant intimate partner violence.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended that clinicians screen patients for intimate partner violence (IPV). This article aims to develop and test the first screeners for clinically significant physical and psychological IPV (i.e., acts meeting criteria in the International Classification of Diseases (11th ed.; ICD-11; World Health Organization, 2019) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013). The goal was to derive screeners that (1) are maximally brief, while still achieving high sensitivity and specificity; (2) assess perpetration and victimization when either men or women are reporting; and (3) use ICD-11/DSM-5 criteria as the reference standard. Random samples of active duty service members at 82 installations worldwide were obtained via e-mail invitation (2006: N = 54,543; 2008: N = 48,909); their response rates were excellent for long general population surveys with no payment (2006: 44.7%, 2008: 49.0%). The population of spouses at the participating installation was invited by mailed postcard (2006: N = 19,722; 2008: N = 12,127; response rates-2006: 12.3%, 2008: 10.8%). Clinically significant physical intimate partner violence can be effectively screened with as few as four items, with sensitivities > 90% and specificities > 95%; clinically significant psychological intimate partner violence can be screened with two items. Men and women can be screened with equivalent accuracy, as can those committing the violence and those victimized by it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Validación de la versión corta del Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) en población general / Validation of the short version of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) in the general population

OBJETIVO: Realizar una validación concurrente de la versión corta del Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST), un instrumento utilizado en la detección de violencia de pareja hacia la mujer, estimando los índices de validez en población general. MÉTODO: La fuente de información fue la tercera Encuesta de violencia de pareja hacia la mujer de la Comunidad de Madrid de 2014, realizada a mujeres de 18 a 70 años. Como referencia se utilizó la definición de violencia de pareja hacia la mujer basada en un cuestionario de 26 preguntas. La versión corta del WAST incluye dos preguntas con tres respuestas posibles. Se calculan y comparan la prevalencia de violencia de pareja hacia la mujer y los índices de validez del cuestionario según dos criterios de puntuación con intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC95%). RESULTADOS: La tasa de respuesta fue del 60%. Se analizaron 2979 encuestas. La prevalencia de violencia de pareja hacia la mujer fue del 7,6% (IC95%: 6,6-8,5%). Se encontró un 21,1% (IC95%: 19,6-22,5) de test positivos según el criterio 1 y un 11,0% (IC95%: 9,9-12,1) según el criterio 2. El criterio 2 presentó una mayor eficiencia global del test (81,5% [IC95%: 80,1-82,9] para el criterio 1 vs. 88,8% [IC95%:87,7-89,9] para el criterio 2). Los mejores índices se obtuvieron en mujeres a partir de 30 años de edad. CONCLUSIONES: La versión reducida del cuestionario WAST presentó índices de validez aceptables para ser utilizados como cuestionario de cribado de violencia de pareja hacia la mujer. Recomendamos utilizar el criterio 2 de puntuación en la estimación de la prevalencia de violencia de pareja hacia la mujer en encuestas dirigidas a población general

OBJECTIVE: To perform a concurrent validation of the short version of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST), used to detect intimate partner violence, estimating the validity indexes in the general population. METHOD: The information source was the third Intimate partner violence survey in the Region of Madrid (Spain) conducted on women aged 18-70 in 2014. As the gold standard we used the definition of intimate partner violence based on a 26- question survey. The short version of WAST includes two questions with three possible answers. The prevalence of intimate partner violence and the validity indexes were calculated and compared according to two scoring criteria with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: The response rate was 60.0%, and 2979 surveys were analysed. The prevalence of intimate partner violence was 7.6% (95%CI: 6.6-8.5). We showed 21.1% (95%CI: 19.6-22.5) positive test results according to WAST criterion 1 and 11.0% (95%CI: 9.9-12.1) according to criterion 2. Criterion 2 presented higher overall efficiency of the test (81.5% [95%CI: 80.1-82.9] criterion 1 vs. 88.8% [95%CI: 87.7-89.9] criterion 2). The best indexes were obtained in women ≥30 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The short version of the WAST showed acceptable validity indexes for use as a screening tool of intimate partner violence in the general population. We recommend using scoring criterion 2 to estimate prevalence of intimate partner violence in surveys on the general population

Assessing Intimate Partner Violence in South Asian Women Using the Index of Spouse Abuse.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) affects 21-40% of South Asian (SA) women in the United States. No screening tool has been validated in this population. This study sought to determine the validity of the Index of Spouse Abuse (ISA) as an IPV screening tool and to determine the prevalence of IPV among a SA immigrant population. Thirty-one percent of women screened positive on one or both ISA scales. The ISA-P and ISA-NP items were highly reliable as was the correlation between the ISA-P and ISA-NP scores. The ISA is a valid and reliable IPV screening tool in the SA immigrant population.

[Validation of the short version of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) in the general population]. / Validación de la versión corta del Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) en población general.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a concurrent validation of the short version of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST), used to detect intimate partner violence, estimating the validity indexes in the general population. METHOD: The information source was the third Intimate partner violence survey in the Region of Madrid (Spain) conducted on women aged 18-70 in 2014. As the gold standard we used the definition of intimate partner violence based on a 26- question survey. The short version of WAST includes two questions with three possible answers. The prevalence of intimate partner violence and the validity indexes were calculated and compared according to two scoring criteria with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: The response rate was 60.0%, and 2979 surveys were analysed. The prevalence of intimate partner violence was 7.6% (95%CI: 6.6-8.5). We showed 21.1% (95%CI: 19.6-22.5) positive test results according to WAST criterion 1 and 11.0% (95%CI: 9.9-12.1) according to criterion 2. Criterion 2 presented higher overall efficiency of the test (81.5% [95%CI: 80.1-82.9] criterion 1 vs. 88.8% [95%CI: 87.7-89.9] criterion 2). The best indexes were obtained in women ≥30 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The short version of the WAST showed acceptable validity indexes for use as a screening tool of intimate partner violence in the general population. We recommend using scoring criterion 2 to estimate prevalence of intimate partner violence in surveys on the general population.

"Made Me Feel Connected": A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Intimate Partner Violence Routine Screening Pathways to Impact.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) routine screening is widely implemented, yet the evidence for pathways to impact remains unclear. Of the 32 abused women interviewed 16 weeks after antenatal IPV screening, 24 reported positive impact, six reported nil positive impact, and two reported negative impact. Using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), key conditions for positive impact were care in asking, and support and validation from the midwife. Lack of these and lack of continuity of care were relevant to nil positive impact. Benefits included naming the abuse, connection, unburdening, taking steps to safety, and enabling informed care. Disclosure was not required for positive impact.

Health care providers' perceptions and practices of screening for domestic violence in Upper Egypt.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the attitude of health care providers about screening for and dealing with domestic violence in the health care setting and to assess the physicians screening behavior. METHODS: We surveyed physicians and nurses working in different departments of Assiut University Hospital using a self-administered questionnaire. Two focus group discussions with physicians and nurses were also conducted. RESULTS: 44.3% and 46.5% of physicians and nurses mentioned time constraints as a barrier for DV screening. Physicians believed that it is not important to screen for DV because it is a socially accepted problem and because of the unavailability of the necessary referrals to help victims (30.2% and 20.0%, respectively). The unsuitability of the outpatient clinics to screen for DV was also mentioned by 65.6% and 75.5% of physicians and nurses respectively. Only 36.7% of physicians perceived having the communication skills to facilitate disclosure of DV exposure. Regarding practice, only 35.0% of physicians have screened for DV in the three months preceding data collection. Urban residence, perception of the negative health consequence of DV exposure and perception of the physicians to have the required communication skills predicted positive attitude towards DV screening, while feeling distressed to discuss exposure to DV was associated with negative physicians' attitude. CONCLUSION: In-service training of health care providers to identify and manage victims of DV and establishing supportive system would have great implications for reducing the physical and mental negative consequences of DV exposure.

Intimate Partner Violence Screening in the Prenatal Period: Variation by State, Insurance, and Patient Characteristics.

Objective To measure the proportion of women screened for IPV during prenatal care; to assess the predictors of prenatal IPV screening. Methods We use the CDC's 2012 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, representative of births in 24 states and New York City (N = 28,581). We calculated descriptive and logistic regressions, weighted to deal with state-clustered observations. Results 49.2% of women in our sample reported being screened for IPV while pregnant. There were higher screening rates among women of color, and those who had not completed high school, never been married, received WIC benefits, initiated prenatal care in the first trimester, and were publicly insured. State screening rates varied (29.9-62.9%). Among states, mandated perinatal depression screening or training was positively associated with IPV screening. 3.6% of women in our sample reported prenatal IPV but were not screened during pregnancy. Conclusions for Practice Current efforts have not led to universal screening. We need to better understand when and why providers do not screen pregnant patients for IPV.

Imaging of Violence Against the Elderly and the Women.

Emergency department assessment is a critical opportunity to identify elder abuse and violence against women, which represent a growing problem, requiring the attention of health care systems. Elder abuse is most frequently perpetrated by family members because of the higher levels of stress, burnout, and financial problems affecting the caregivers that can even lead to deadly consequences. Intimate partner violence is defined as physical, sexual, or psychological harm caused to another by a current or former partner or spouse, and can range from a single acute hit to chronic battering, varying in frequency and severity. Radiologists have a critical role in detecting those injury findings suggestive of abuse and violence. When appropriate, additional information about the social circumstances in which an injury took place, linked with imaging findings, may also be helpful in diagnosing abuse. The purpose of this article is to highlight the role of diagnostic imaging in the detection of lesions compatible with domestic abuse in elderly patients and women, and to allow the recognition of the alterations most frequently associated with this type of violence.

Screening in the Prenatal Period for Intimate Partner Violence and History of Abuse: A Survey of Edmonton Obstetrician/Gynaecologists.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to understand how obstetrician gynaecologists (OB/GYNs) in Edmonton, Alberta screen prenatal patients for intimate partner violence (IPV). It also aimed to explore attitudes, beliefs, and perceptions regarding IPV and identify barriers to screening for IPV. Institutional protocols, resources, and support available to clinicians and patients were also reviewed. METHODS: All Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada-certified OB/GYNs practicing general obstetrics in Edmonton were identified and were mailed letters and electronic questionnaires with two follow-up letters or emails at 2-week intervals. Personal and clinical practice demographic information was collected. Physicians' perceptions, screening practices, and barriers to screening were identified. Responses were collected, stored, and analyzed using a secure online database, Research Electronic Data Capture Database; all responses were completely anonymous. RESULTS: Of 58 physicians surveyed, 49 completed questionnaires (84% response rate). A total of 33% of respondents either never or rarely screened women for IPV during prenatal visits, 69% either never or rarely screened for childhood abuse, 94% did not have a screening protocol, and 77% did not have written materials to provide to patients. Multiple barriers were identified. A total of 94% of OB/GYNs believed that they were inadequately screening for IPV. CONCLUSION: Screening of pregnant women for IPV and a history of abuse is suboptimal. There are multiple barriers (cultural, societal, economic, and institutional) that prevent women from being screened for IPV and receiving appropriate support services.

The effect of a course on violence against women on the attitudes of student midwives and nurses towards domestic violence against women, their occupational roles in addressing violence, and their abilities to recognize the signs of violence.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a course on violence against women on the attitudes of student midwives and nurses towards violence against women and their abilities to recognize the signs of violence. METHODS: This study used a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design with experimental and control groups and was conducted with student midwives and nurses. RESULTS: The results indicated that the difference between pretest and posttest scores averaged across three scales was statistically significant for students in the experimental group (P < 0.001) and not statistically significant for students in the control group ( P > 0.05). PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The traditional attitudes of students who enrolled in the course on violence against women decreased, and their levels of knowledge of signs of violence increased.

A case-controlled field study evaluating ICD-11 proposals for relational problems and intimate partner violence / Estudio de campo con casos controlados para evaluar propuestas de la CIE-11 en problemas relacionales y de violencia de pareja

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Intimate partner relationship problems and intimate partner abuse and neglect - referred to in this paper as "relational problems and maltreatment" - have substantial and well-documented impact on both physical and mental health. However, classification guidelines, such as those found in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), are vague and unlikely to support consistent application. Revised guidelines proposed for ICD-11 are much more operationalized. We used standardized clinical vignette conditions with an international panel of clinicians to test if ICD-11 changes resulted in improved classification accuracy. METHOD: English-speaking mental health professionals (N = 738) from 65 nations applied ICD-10 or ICD-11 (proposed) guidelines with experimentally manipulated case presentations of presence or absence of (a) individual mental health diagnoses and (b) relational problems or maltreatment. RESULTS: ICD-11, compared with ICD-10, guidelines resulted in significantly better classification accuracy, although only in the presence of co-morbid mental health problems. Clinician factors (e. g., gender, language, world region) largely did not impact classification performance. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being considerably more explicated, raters' performance with ICD-11 guidelines reveals training issues that should be addressed prior to the release of ICD-11 in 2018 (e. g., overriding the guidelines with pre-existing archetypes for relationship problems and physical and psychological abuse)

ANTECEDENTES/OBJETIVO: Los problemas en la relación de pareja y relacionados con abuso y negligencia de pareja, referidos como "problemas relacionales y maltrato", tienen un importante impacto en la salud física y mental. Sin embargo, guías de clasificación, como la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE-10), son vagas y su aplicación es inconsistente. Las guías propuestas por el CIE-11 son más operacionales. Junto con un panel de clínicos, utilizamos viñetas clínicas estandarizadas, para evaluar si los cambios propuestos por CIE-11 mejoraban la precisión de la clasificación. MÉTODO: Profesionales de la salud de habla inglesa (N=738) de 65 naciones compararon la aplicación del CIE-10 y CIE-11 en casos experimentales, estableciendo presencia o ausencia de (a) diagnósticos individuales de salud mental y (b) problemas de relaciones o maltrato. RESULTADOS: CIE-11 tuvo resultados significativamente más precisos, aunque solo en presencia de comorbilidades de salud mental. Factores como género, idioma y región no presentaron mayor alteración. CONCLUSIONES: Aunque el CIE-11 está mejor explicado, este estudio revela problemas de capacitación que deberían abordarse antes de su publicación en 2018

[Cultural adaptation and translation of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool]. / Adaptación del instrumento WAST para la detección de violencia doméstica en Centros de Salud.

BACKGROUND: The Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) is a screening tool for domestic violence used in Unites States. AIM: To carry out the cultural adaptation of the WAST instrument for early detection of domestic violence in primary health care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Qualitative techniques for cultural adaptation were used in stages 1 and 2 and quantitative techniques were used in stage 3. The validity of content was assessed using judge tests carried out with experts in the field. Linguistic adaptation was carried out using a focal group technique to ensure semantic and language comprehension. Finally, the culturally adapted instrument was applied to 16 women who were victims of violence and to 28 women without a history of violence. RESULTS: For cultural adaptation, the judges' test added the item of economic violence to the instrument. According to the focus groups, some words were changed to facilitate understanding by the subjects. According to the scores obtained in women with and without a history of violence, a cut-off point of 15 points was defined to determine a history of domestic violence with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 96%. The Cronbach Alpha of the questionnaire was 91%. CONCLUSIONS: WAST is an effective and easily applied instrument for the early detection of domestic violence.

Accuracy and Acceptability of a Screening Tool for Identifying Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration among Women Veterans: A Pre-Implementation Evaluation.

OBJECTIVES: Veterans are at heightened risk for perpetrating intimate partner violence (IPV), yet there is limited evidence to inform practice and policy for the detection of IPV perpetration. The present study evaluated the accuracy and acceptability of a potential IPV perpetration screening tool for use with women veterans. DESIGN: A national sample of women veterans completed a 2016 web-based survey that included a modified 5-item Extended-Hurt/Insult/Threaten/Scream (Modified E-HITS) and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS-2). Items also assessed women's perceptions of the acceptability and appropriateness of the modified E-HITS questions for use in healthcare settings. Accuracy statistics, including sensitivity and specificity, were calculated using the CTS-2 as the reference standard. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary measures included the Modified E-HITS (index test), CTS-2 (reference standard), and items assessing acceptability. RESULTS: This study included 187 women, of whom 31 women veterans (16.6%) reported past-6-month IPV perpetration on the CTS-2. The Modified E-HITS demonstrated good overall accuracy (area under the curve, 0.86; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-0.94). In addition, the majority of women perceived the questions to be acceptable and appropriate. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate that the Modified E-HITS is promising as a low-burden tool for detecting of IPV perpetration among women veterans. This tool may help the Veterans Health Administration and other health care providers detect IPV perpetration and offer appropriate referrals for comprehensive assessment and services.

[Hold or traumatic dissociation at work]. / L'emprise ou la dissociation traumatique à l'œuvre.

For professionals confronted with intrafamily violence, being aware of the phenomena of the hold of the perpetrator and understanding its devastating psychotraumatic mechanisms are key to being able to provide better protection, information and care to the victims. Their behaviour, which seems paradoxical, arouses doubts and sometimes even brings into question the victims, when they are actually suffering from traumatic dissociation and memory of the violence.

Adaptación del instrumento WAST para la detección de violencia doméstica en Centros de Salud / Cultural adaptation and translation of the Woman Abuse Screening Tool

Background: The Woman Abuse Screening Tool (WAST) is a screening tool for domestic violence used in Unites States. Aim: To carry out the cultural adaptation of the WAST instrument for early detection of domestic violence in primary health care. Material and Methods: Qualitative techniques for cultural adaptation were used in stages 1 and 2 and quantitative techniques were used in stage 3. The validity of content was assessed using judge tests carried out with experts in the field. Linguistic adaptation was carried out using a focal group technique to ensure semantic and language comprehension. Finally, the culturally adapted instrument was applied to 16 women who were victims of violence and to 28 women without a history of violence. Results: For cultural adaptation, the judges' test added the item of economic violence to the instrument. According to the focus groups, some words were changed to facilitate understanding by the subjects. According to the scores obtained in women with and without a history of violence, a cut-off point of 15 points was defined to determine a history of domestic violence with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 96%. The Cronbach Alpha of the questionnaire was 91%. Conclusions: WAST is an effective and easily applied instrument for the early detection of domestic violence.

Análisis del maltrato prenatal en Cataluña entre los años 2011 y 2014 / Analysis of prenatal abuse in catalonia between the years 2011 and 2014

Introducción: El maltrato prenatal es aquel acto intencionado o negligente que causa un efecto nocivo al feto. Es un tipo de maltrato difícil de diagnosticar y manejar. Algunos indicadores de sospecha son la ausencia de control gestacional, el consumo materno de tóxicos o la problemática social del entorno materno. Objetivo: Analizar los casos de maltrato prenatal registrados en Cataluña entre 2011 y 2014 para identificar el perfil de riesgo. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal de una muestra de 222 casos de maltrato prenatal registrados en Cataluña entre 2011 y 2014. Resultados: La edad media materna fue de 28,11 años. El 63% de los casos eran de nacionalidad española, un 76% estaba sin trabajo, el 60% no había seguido un correcto control gestacional, un 76% tenía interrupciones de embarazo previas, un 20% manifestaba haber sido maltratada por la pareja. Fueron frecuente los antecedentes de problemática social (76% intervención social; 30,5% retenciones de hijos previos; 13% tutela de la madre por la administración; 7% privación de libertad), con tasas elevadas de infección por enfermedades de transmisión vertical (VIH 4,95%, VHC 9%, coinfección VIH + VHC 1,8%), el 73% manifestó consumo de tóxicos (por orden de frecuencia cannabis, cocaína y heroína). En los neonatos, destacó el alto índice de prematuridad (26,3%) y el diagnóstico de síndrome de abstinencia en 34 casos. En el 51,6% el hijo está en la actualidad con su madre. Conclusiones: En nuestra población de referencia con diagnóstico de maltrato prenatal destacan unos índices elevados de consumo materno de tóxicos, infección por VIH-VHC, desempleo, antecedentes de intervención social previa y mal control gestacional (AU)

Introduction: Foetal abuse is that intentional or negligent act that causes a harmful effect to the foetus. It is a type of abuse difficult to diagnose and handle. Some indicators of suspicion are the absence of gestational control, the maternal consumption of toxic substances, or the problematic maternal social environment. Objective: To analyse the cases of foetal abuse registered in Catalonia between 2011 and 2014 to identify the risk profile. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on a sample of 222 cases of prenatal abuse registered in Catalonia between 2011 and 2014. Results: The mean maternal age was 28.11 years, with 63% of Spanish nationality, 76% were unemployed, 60% had not followed correct gestational control, 76% had previous pregnancy interruptions, 20% reported to have been mistreated by the partner, had history of social problems (76% social intervention, 30.5% previous child retention, 13% custody of the mother by the administration, 7% deprivation of liberty), with high rates of mother-to-child transmission of infection (HIV 4.95%, HCV 9%, HIV + HCV co-infection 1.8%), and 73% reported toxic use (in order of frequency, cannabis, cocaine and heroin). In newborns, the rate of prematurity (26.3%) is highlighted, as well as the diagnosis of withdrawal syndrome in 34 cases. Just over half (51.6%) of the infants are currently with their mother. Conclusions: In our reference population with a diagnosis of prenatal abuse, there are high rates of maternal toxic consumption, HIV-HCV infection, unemployment, history of previous social intervention, and poor gestational control (AU)