SDU researchers contribute to detecting domestic violence

The government has allocated over 200 million Danish kroner to a range of initiatives that aim at reducing domestic violence to ensure that fewer children grow up in households with domestic violence.

A team of researchers from the Department of Clinical Research and the Department of Psychology is involved in the groundwork for the upcoming frameworks. These frameworks aim to support professionals who encounter pregnant women, expectant parents, and new parents in identifying those at risk of or already experiencing domestic violence.

-Previous research suggests that approximately four percent of Danish women and two percent of Danish men annually report exposure to physical, emotional, sexual, and/or economic violence from a current or former partner, says Ditte Søndergaard Linde, associate professor in women's health at the Department of Clinical Research, who led the work on the reports.

-Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 20 percent of Danish women experience partner violence during their lifetime. It's a significant problem that we can alleviate by improving our ability to identify victims and perpetrators of violence so they can receive help earlier. Exposure to violence has significant health consequences for the entire family, both in the short and long term.

Multiple factors at play

Together with research colleagues from the Department of Psychology, the Department of Clinical Research at SDU, and doctors and midwives at Odense University Hospital, Ditte Søndergaard Linde has reviewed scientific literature in the field. They have explored the best methods for detection of violence, existing interventions, factors that influence healthcare professionals' detection and handling of violence, and barriers that prevent pregnant women, expectant, or new parents who are victims or perpetrators of violence from participating in screening and interventions.

-There are many factors at play when detecting and addressing domestic violence. There's a significant stigma associated with being a victim of violence, and pregnant women and their families may have concerns about the consequences for the entire family if they disclose exposure to violence.

Health professionals can make a difference

Research also shows that systematic screening for exposure to violence, i.e. if midwives screen all pregnant women by use of a screening tool, is more helpful than opportunistic screening.

Violence cuts across social strata and can manifest in various ways, hence, it is a challenging issue for healthcare professionals to address. However, simple questions to all pregnant women about different acts of violence and conflicts in the relationship can make it easier for healthcare professionals to identify victims of violence.

-Addressing violence can be a challenging topic for healthcare professionals. Our reports highlight the need for training of healthcare professionals and clear organizational frameworks on how to screen and what to do if a pregnant woman discloses being a victim of violence or experiencing relationship issues.

-Additionally, we need more knowledge on how to detect digital violence and stalking and how to best collaborate across sectors so that midwives, general practitioners, and nurse midwives (i.e. sundhedsplejersker) can collaborate and support the whole family over an extended period. Finally, we know very little about how best to address exposure to violence among ethnic minority groups, partners of pregnant women, and how best to support both victims and perpetrators to end the violence. So, there are many 'gaps of knowledge' that research still needs to address.

Midwives and nurse midwives play a central role

The Danish Health Authority (SST) and the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI) will develop the new guidelines for how to detect and intervene against violence among pregnant women, expectant, and new parents.

These frameworks are expected to be implemented into antenatal and post-partum care in Denmark, as midwives, health visitors, and general practitioners are considered to have a crucial role for detection of and early interventions against domestic violence.

-In these report we have mapped existing initiatives and interventions. It will be interesting to see what the frameworks will entail and how we will practically implement them in the Danish healthcare sector after the public hearing process, says Ditte Søndergaard Linde.

- Midwives, nurse-midwives/health visitors, and general practitioners have a close relation to families. Therefore, they are in a special position to detect violence. We are in the process of developing a framework for detection of and interventions against domestic violence and honor-related conflicts among pregnant women, expectant parents, and new parents. This will assist healthcare professionals in their efforts to detect violence, says Charlotte Kira Kimby, section manager at the Danish Health Authority. She reveals that the framework will result in a handbook for general practitioners, nurse-midwives/health visitors, and midwives, as well as a training program for these health professionals.