Screening for Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence in College Women: Missed Opportunities
Intimate
partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence (SV) are significant health issues
for college women. Leading organizations and experts recommend screening for
IPV/SV in health care settings, including college health centers. Given the
prevalence and health risks associated with IPV/SV among college women, it is
important to examine screening in this population.
A
cross-sectional, web-based survey was administered to college women at two universities
in the northeastern United States. The survey consisted of demographic
questions, assessment of experiences with IPV/SV (lifetime and past 6 months),
use of health care services with either a college health center or an
off-campus provider, and assessment of health care setting screening practices.
The
sample included 615 college women (M = 21.5 years). Lifetime
experiences of IPV/SV were reported by 222 women (36.1%). Approximately 8.1% of
participants (n = 51) experienced IPV/SV in the past 6 months.
Almost 63% (n = 238) reported not being asked about IPV/SV at their
most recent off-campus health care visit. Nearly 90% (n = 237)
reported not being asked about IPV/SV at their most recent visit to the college
health center.
Participants
reported high rates of IPV/SV and low rates of violence screening at college
health centers and off-campus settings. Routine provider screening for IPV/SV
in health care settings can identify women at risk and can lead to
interventions that reduce subsequent violence and improve health outcomes and
referrals. Theory-based, culture-specific, multilevel interventions are needed
to promote IPV/SV screening among college health providers.
Via: http://ht.ly/S8KwR
By:
Sutherland MA1, Fantasia HC2, Hutchinson MK3.
- 1William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Electronic address: Melissa.Sutherland@bc.edu.
- 2School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, Massachusetts.
- 3William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
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