Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Australian Journal of Primary Health Australian Journal of Primary Health Society
The issues influencing community health services and primary health care
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Views of nurses and midwives working in primary healthcare services on intimate partner violence against women

Suna Uysal Yalçın A * , Sena Dilek Aksoy B , Zeynep Zonp C and Hülya Bilgin D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Department, Kocaeli Health and Technology University, Kocaeli, Turkey.

B Midwife Department, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.

C College of Nursing, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.

D Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing Department, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Istanbul University – Cerrahpaşa, İstanbul, Turkey.

* Correspondence to: sunauysl@hotmail.com

Australian Journal of Primary Health 30, PY24007 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY24007
Submitted: 2 February 2024  Accepted: 10 October 2024  Published: 7 November 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University

Abstract

Background

Violence against women is a global public health problem. Primary healthcare services and health workers play an important role in managing this problem. The aim was to identify barriers and facilitators to the identification and management of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women presenting to primary healthcare services from the perspective of nurses/midwives, and to identify the challenges and needs to improve practices.

Methods

This was a qualitative descriptive study, in which semistructured interviews were conducted with 19 nurses/midwives working in primary healthcare services. The interviews were analysed using a thematic analysis approach through an inductive process. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research was used to ensure comprehensive reporting of the protocol for this qualitative study.

Results

Four main themes were identified: (1) detection of intimate partner violence, (2) nurses’/midwives’ current practices, (3) barriers to identification and management, and (4) needs.

Conclusions

Primary care nurses/midwives in this study perceived that they were not responsible for the detection and management of intimate partner violence, and a majority reported they did not want to take an active role. However, those who were willing to engage in the detection and management of IPV required sufficient time for patient consultations, a reduced workload and a separate room with suitable physical conditions. It is recommended that nurses/midwives be provided with training on IPV detection and management at specific intervals, and studies be conducted to evaluate the outcomes of such training, and initiate the professional decision-making process of nurses/midwives to effectively identify, respond to and support individuals affected by IPV.

Keywords: barriers, intimate partner violence, midwife, need, nurse, primary healthcare services, qualitative study, violence.

References

Ağırlar T (2024) Kadına Yönelik Şiddet Uygulayan 670 Kişi Elektronik Kelepçeyle İzleniyor. Polis Dergisi 30(118), 18-19 Available at https://polisdergisi.pa.edu.tr/Upload/Dergi/polis-dergisi-dergiecbda00c-af27-4cf1-9787-a71d2ff676b1.pdf.
| Google Scholar |

Ali PA, Naylor PB (2013) Intimate partner violence: a narrative review of the feminist, social and ecological explanations for its causation. Aggression and Violent Behavior 18(6), 611-619.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Bradshaw C, Atkinson S, Doody O (2017) Employing a qualitative description approach in health care research. Global Qualitative Nursing Research 4, 2333393617742282.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Creswell JW (2013) ‘Nitel Araştırma Yöntemleri – Beş Yaklaşıma Göre Nitel Araştırma ve Araştırma Deseni.’ (Eds M Bütün, SB Demir) 3. Baskı. (Siyasal Kitabevi: Ankara)

Davis LL (1992) Instrument Review: getting the most from a panel of experts. Applied Nursing Research 5(4), 194-197.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

d’Oliveira AFPL, Pereira S, Bacchus LJ, Feder G, Schraiber LB, de Aguiar JM, Granusso Bonin R, Guida Vieira Graglia C, Colombini M (2022) Are we asking too much of the health sector? Exploring the readiness of Brazilian primary healthcare to respond to domestic violence against women. International Journal of Health Policy and Management 11(7), 961-972.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Elo S, Kyngäs H (2008) The qualitative content analysis process. Journal of Advanced Nursing 62(1), 107-115.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Felix RT, ten Ham-Baloyi W, Strümpher N (2020) Prospective intimate partner violence screening tool for use in primary healthcare facilities. Journal of Psychology in Africa 30(6), 593-598.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

García-Quinto M, Briones-Vozmediano E, Otero-García L, Goicolea I, Vives-Cases C (2022) Social workers’ perspectives on barriers and facilitators in responding to intimate partner violence in primary health care in Spain. Health & Social Care in the Community 30(1), 102-113.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Gençer MZ, Ağırman E, Arıca S (2019) Frequency of violence against women and women’s perception of violence in Istanbul province. Ahi Evran Medical Journal 3(1), 18-25.
| Google Scholar |

Goicolea I, Mosquera P, Briones-Vozmediano E, Otero-García L, García-Quinto M, Vives-Cases C (2017) Primary health care attributes and responses to intimate partner violence in Spain. Gaceta Sanitaria 31(3), 187-193.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Graham LM, Embry V, Young B-R, Macy RJ, Moracco KE, Reyes HLM, Martin SL (2021) Evaluations of prevention programs for sexual, dating, and intimate partner violence for boys and men: a systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 22(3), 439-465.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Holmes MR, Berg KA, Bender AE, Evans KE, Kobulsky JM, Davis AP, King JA (2022) The effect of intimate partner violence on children’s medical system engagement and physical health: a systematic review. Journal of Family Violence 37(8), 1221-1244.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Hudspeth N, Cameron J, Baloch S, Tarzia L, Hegarty K (2022) Health practitioners’ perceptions of structural barriers to the identification of intimate partner abuse: a qualitative meta-synthesis. BMC Health Services Research 22(1), 96.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Hıdıroğlu S, Tanrıöver Ö, Tosun M, Turan CA, Günaydın BS, Eser B, Htoo KM, Karavuş M (2019) Evaluation of the relationship between levels of exposure to violence and job satisfaction of primary health care workers. The Journal of Turkish Family Physician 10(4), 173-184.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Jewkes R, Flood M, Lang J (2015) From work with men and boys to changes of social norms and reduction of inequities in gender relations: a conceptual shift in prevention of violence against women and girls. The Lancet 385(9977), 1580-1589.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Kivrak Y, Gey N, Kivrak HA, Kokaçya MH, Çöpoğlu US, Ari M (2015) Partner violence against women, childhood trauma, depression and quality of life: a population based-study. Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 16(5), 314-322.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Koç G (2022) A study of femicide in turkey from 2010 to 2017. Sage Open 12(3), 21582440221119831.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Kıyak S, Akın B (2010) Knowledge and attitudes of nurses and midwives towards domestic violence against women. Journal of Research & Development in Nursing 2, 5-16.
| Google Scholar |

Lahav Y (2023) Hyper-sensitivity to the perpetrator and the likelihood of returning to abusive relationships. Journal of Interpersonal Violence 38(1–2), 1815-1841.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Liu J, Gan Y, Jiang H, Li L, Dwyer R, Lu K, Yan S, Sampson O, Xu H, Wang C, Zhu Y, Chang Y, Yang Y, Yang T, Chen Y, Song F, Lu Z (2019) Prevalence of workplace violence against healthcare workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Occupational and Environmental Medicine 76(12), 927-937.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Maquibar A, Estalella I, Romero-Serrano R, Macías-Seda J, Gil-García E, Lancharro-Tavero I (2023) Primary healthcare nurses’ experiences of addressing intimate partner violence in supportive legal and health system contexts. Journal of Advanced Nursing 79(4), 1399-1413.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Ministry of Family and Social Policies, Hacettepe University (2014) Research on domestic violence against women in Türkiye. Hacettepe University. Available at https://hips.hacettepe.edu.tr/en/national_research_on_domestic_violence_against_wom-315 [accessed 30 October 2020]

Mphephu A, Du Plessis E (2021) Professional nurses’ experience in providing nursing care to women experiencing gender-based violence: a caring presence study. Health SA Gesondheid 26, a1658.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Özcan A, İnan Ceviz A (2022) Knowledge and attitudes of primary health care workers regarding violence against women. Journal of Continuing Medical Education 31(4), 281-288.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Pease B (2019) ‘Facing patriarchy: from a violent gender order to a culture of peace.’ p. 256. (Zed Books: London)

Pierik B (2022) Patriarchal power as a conceptual tool for gender history. Rethinking History 26(1), 71-92.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Prosman G-J, Lo Fo Wong SH, Römkens R, Lagro-Janssen ALM (2014) ‘I am stronger, I’m no longer afraid…’, an evaluation of a home-visiting mentor mother support programme for abused women in primary care. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences 28(4), 724-731.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Rayhan I, Akter K (2021) Prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women in Bangladesh amid COVID-19 pandemic. Heliyon 7(3), e06619.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Saletti-Cuesta L, Aizenberg L, Ricci-Cabello I (2018) Opinions and experiences of primary healthcare providers regarding violence against women: a systematic review of qualitative studies. Journal of Family Violence 33(6), 405-420.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Shaheen A, Ashkar S, Alkaiyat A, Bacchus L, Colombini M, Feder G, Evans M (2020) Barriers to women’s disclosure of domestic violence in health services in Palestine: qualitative interview-based study. BMC Public Health 20(1), 1795.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Silva T, Agampodi T, Evans M, Knipe D, Rathnayake A, Rajapakse T (2022) Barriers to help-seeking from healthcare professionals amongst women who experience domestic violence-a qualitative study in Sri Lanka. BMC public health 22(1), 721.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

Sundborg E, Törnkvist L, Saleh-Stattin N, Wändell P, Hylander I (2017) To ask, or not to ask: the hesitation process described by district nurses encountering women exposed to intimate partner violence. Journal of Clinical Nursing 26(15–16), 2256-2265.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Tarzia L, Cameron J, Watson J, Fiolet R, Baloch S, Robertson R, Kyei-Onanjiri M, McKibbin G, Hegarty K (2021) Personal barriers to addressing intimate partner abuse: a qualitative meta-synthesis of healthcare practitioners’ experiences. BMC Health Services Research 21(1), 567.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Taskiran AC, Ozsahin A, Edirne T (2019) Intimate partner violence management and referral practices of primary care workers in a selected population in Turkey. Primary Health Care Research & Development 20, e96.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J (2007) Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. International Journal for Quality in Health Care 19(6), 349-357.
| Crossref | Google Scholar | PubMed |

Usta J, Feder G, Antoun J (2014) Attitudes towards domestic violence in Lebanon: a qualitative study of primary care practitioners. British Journal of General Practice 64(623), e313-e320.
| Crossref | Google Scholar |

World Health Organization (2012) Understanding and addressing violence against women. Available at https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/77432/WHO_RHR_12.36_eng.pdf?sequence=1

World Health Organization (2013) Responding to intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women: WHO clinical and policy guidelines. Available at https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/85240/9789241548595_eng.pdf;jsessionid=0C20E65A55E47BF55C8BADC30EC40B98?sequence=1

World Health Organization (2019) Caring for women subjected to violence: a WHO curriculum for training health-care providers. Available at https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/330084/9789241517102-eng.pdf?sequence=8

World Health Organization (2024) Violence against women. Available at https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women