Should screening for domestic violence be done on all women? Picture: iStock

In a desperate attempt to decrease the rate of domestic violence in Australia, CQUniversity Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research body have proposed that all healthcare practitioners screen women to determine if they are experiencing domestic violence at the hands of their partner.

While there has been some debate about the best way to identify women at risk, some experts — particularly in the US — advocate for universal or routine screenings in all healthcare practices. This would mean that all women who use a GP clinic, emergency department, hospital or maternity ward are screened and questioned by a doctor for signs of domestic abuse.

Debate on the Gold Coast is discussing whether screening for domestic abuse should apply to all women patients. Picture: iStock.Source:istock

Event organiser and Director of the CDFVR, Associate Professor Annabel Taylor, explains that this is a contested issue among domestic violence and healthcare practitioners.

“This event will explore the different perspectives of Queensland researchers and practitioners when it comes to screening women who may have experienced intimate partner violence,” she said.

Dr Taylor led the event on Thursday, which focused on presentations from guest speakers Dr Kathleen Baird from Griffith University and Dr Deborah Walsh from the University of Queensland.

The discussion looked at what purpose universal screening serves, and how it could contribute to addressing the considerable problem of domestic violence across Australia — which on average, sees one woman killed every week at the hands of a current or former partner.

“The critical issue is all of us, as much as possible, encourage women to come forward about domestic violence, but also have the support necessary to guide them,” Dr Taylor said.

“The concept of screening would be for medical practitioners to use as a well established tool, and learn how to ask sensitive questions about the area of domestic violence.

“In the UK for example, there are well established screenings available in emergency departments. The information is translated to police incidents data if an outcome from the screening are urgent. It gives each emergency department a picture on domestic violence in that area.”

Associate Professor Dr Annabel Taylor is the Director of the CQUniversity Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

While some experts support the practice, others argue the case for a more selective approach based on various clinical and diagnostic considerations should be implemented instead.

Dr Kathleen Baird supports the idea of the health departments playing a role in combating domestic violence, but also thinks the use of screening could become selective towards certain demographics of patients.

“Health has a really important role to play with screening for domestic violence, but the word ‘screening’ does worry me,” she said.

“When I think about it, it could become more about routine or selective inquiry. The problem with selective inquiry is that doctors could make an assumption about who they should ask. What we need to remember is that domestic violence can happen to anyone and all social groups.

“People make assumptions and that’s where the selective or screening process could fall down.”

While Dr Baird doesn’t see a screening happening in all GP clinics, she does believe it should be implemented in health services that focus on pregnancy, sexual health, HIV and mental health clinics.

“The screening should only occur if a robust training program is available for practitioners,” she said.

“For health, they have to be able to know how to ask the question and respond sensitively, and be aware of referral pathways that can support women, children and men.

“If you ask women the question, they may not be ready to tell you. But the fact that a health practitioner or even a GP has asked, that gives a strong message to a victim that you care and are there when ready to speak.

“We assume all women know what help and services are available, but they don’t and if health don’t step in, we are missing a fantastic opportunity to support women, children and men who may be experiencing domestic violence.”

For the screening to work, experts say health practitioners will need to learn how to ask the right questions, and ask them in the right way. Picture: iStock.Source:istock

The screening service would require extensive training and support, but would be another way of bringing the issue of domestic violence in to the spotlight, and “open the doors for women who don’t know where to go”.

“We hope that by bringing this issue into the spotlight and starting a conversation with healthcare professionals and domestic violence practitioners, we can deliver more targeted research and better influence future decision making and policies,” Dr Taylor said.

“Health could have a bigger role in prevention and support, but we can’t do that unless we have a mechanism in place.

“Screening takes place in a lot of maternity wards, but we need to look at where else we can roll this work out.

“We have evidence that women don’t mind being asked the question, but it depends who is asking the question and how they ask it. All of this goes back to the education.

“The debate is about universal screening in all sectors of the health is still debatable, but there are areas where it is imperative. Selective screening is around indications that would probe you asking a question, but that process misses a lot people,” Dr Baird added.

For more information about the event and the CDFVR please visit www.noviolence.com.au