Family violence: What health workers can do

Ajduković, Dean and Ajduković, Marina. (2010). Family violence: What health workers can do. Medicina Fluminensis, 46(3). pp. 292-299. ISSN 1848-1868, 1847-6864

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Abstract

Family violence is a set of behaviors aimed to control family members by force, intimidation and manipulation. Different forms of violence and abuse are psychological, physical, sexual and economic. Most common victims are children, women, elderly and people with special needs. Health workers have a major role in early recognition and prevention of family violence because they are the professionals with who most people get in contact during their life time and who have an opportunity to create a confidential environment. The victims typically deny family violence because they fear their safety may be compromised, feel shame of having a violent family, and due to the specific dynamics of violent relationship that leaves the victim powerless and loyal to the perpetrator. Physicians and nurses often hesitate to discuss the family violence with their patients, so that only about one quarter of female victims of physical violence talk about it with their general practitioner, mostly because the physician did not ask about it. Therefore it is important to increase the capacity of health workers to recognize the signs of violence, know what to do and become willing to help stop the violence. They are legally mandated to report family violence cases to police and public prosecutor. This is consistent with the professional ethnic since the patients’ complaints need to be investigated even when they are of non-medical nature, health workers can help a victim avoid and decrease exposure to violence, thus contributing to decrease in poor health outcomes, and they can help save lives and health because family violence recurs and escalates.

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