| |
|
|
Nursing
Role
It
is important that health professionals are educated to recognise the
signs and symptoms of an abusive relationship.
However,
some health professionals continue to be reluctant to take up
routine enquiry into domestic violence. This may be because they
lack confidence and knowledge. It is thought that clinicians remain
unclear about their role in addressing domestic violence; many may
find it difficult to listen to or understand a woman's disclosure,
and some may even have difficulty empathising with a victim's
powerlessness. Domestic violence is a very sensitive issue and to be
able to deal with it effectively staff require the appropriate
tools.
Domestic violence is fuelled by
ignorance and silence,
and
nurses must squarely face
this
often-avoided issue.
(Carretta,
2008)
3 Goals for Health Care
Professionals
| Prevention |
Working
to prevent domestic violence from happening in the first
place, and working with victims and offenders to prevent it
from reoccurring |
| Protection
& Justice |
Increased
legal protection for victims and their families |
| Support |
In
order for victims to rebuild their
lives |
How Do You
Recognize A Victim?
Health
care professionals have a major responsibility to address the issue
of violence against women. It is important that nurses take a more
active role in efforts to develop health care planning, public
policies, and community responses to violence.
Long-term victims will be harder to identify
because they have become skilful at hiding their struggle. Signs to
look for:
·
Depression
·
Low
self-esteem
·
A
tendency toward social isolation
·
Lack
of financial independence
·
Incidence
of bruising or injury
·
A pattern may begin to emerge but only if you
are aware of the signs.
Sample Questions
·
Nurses
may ask whether the woman feels safe at home, instead of asking
whether she is abused.
·
Nurses
may also assess the domestic relationship and ask what happens when
an argument arises.
·
Being
creative and specific when asking questions may facilitate the
victim’s decision to disclose abuse
Key
Points
·
Domestic violence, also known as gender
violence, interpersonal violence, and domestic abuse, is a daily and
often a deadly fact of life for millions of women and girls around
the world.
·
Domestic
violence occurs throughout the life span—pre-birth through older
adulthood.
·
Health
care professionals have a major responsibility in addressing
violence against women, with a focus on primary
prevention.
·
Empowering
women and reminding them they are not at fault, dispelling the myths
about abuse, and giving women the tools to help themselves can be
part of the solution to this social and health
problem.
This site is © Copyright Reena Kullar & Kim Sahota 2009, All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
 |
