Active members of the Ohio chapters of American Academy of Family Physicians (FP=1,498) and American Academy of Pediatrics (Ped=1,725) were surveyed about their knowledge and management regarding children exposed to domestic violence (DV). Characteristics of respondents were analyzed by use of Chi-square analysis. Logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of DV knowledge and management. The response rate was 33.3%. Family physicians were more likely to know their local DV agency and recognize the adult symptoms of DV, such as unexplained injury. Pediatricians were more likely to report the child who saw a fight between parents to child protective services. Continuing work to increase physicians’ comfort and ability to assess for DV and manage exposed children is needed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Elliott B, Johnson M. Domestic violence in a primary care setting: patterns and prevalence. Arch Fam Med. 1995;4:113-119.
2.
Gin N, Rucker L, Frayne S, et al.Prevalence of intimate partner violence among patients in three ambulatory care internal medicine clinics. J Gen Intern Med. 1991;6:317-322.
3.
Hamberger L, Saunders D, Hovey M. Prevalence of domestic violence in community practice and rate of physician inquiry. Arch Fam Med. 1992;24:283-287.
4.
Wissow L, Roter D, Wilson M. Pediatrician interview style and mothers' disclosure of phychosocial issues. Pediatrics. 1994;93:289-295.
5.
Siegel R, Hill T, Henderson V, et al.Screening for domestic violence in the community pediatric setting. Pediatrics. 1999;104:874-877.
6.
McFarlane J, Groff J, O'Brien J, Watson K. Behaviors of children who are exposed and not exposed to intimate partner violence: an analysis of 330 black, white, and Hispanic children. Pediatrics. 2003;112:e202-e207.
7.
Koenen K, Moffitt T, Caspi A, et al.Domestic violence is associated with environmental suppression of IQ in young children. Dev Psychopathol. 2003;15:297-311.
8.
Edleson J. Children's witnessing of adult domestic violence. J Interpersonal Violence. 1999;14:839-870.
9.
Kitzmann K, Gaylord N, Holt A, Kenny E. Child witness to domestic violence: a meta-analytic review. J Consult Clin Psychol. 2003;71:339-352.
10.
Anda R, Croft J, Felitti V, et al.Adverse childhood experiences and smoking during adolescence and adulthood. JAMA. 1999;282:1652-1658.
11.
Anda R, Felitti V, Chapman D, et al.Abused boys, battered mothers, and male involvement in teen pregnancy. Pediatrics. 2001;107:E19.
12.
Dietz P, Spitz A, Anda R, et al.Unintended pregnancy among adult women exposed to abuse or household dysfunction during their childhood. JAMA. 1999;282:1359-1364.
13.
Felitti V, Anda R, Nordenberg D, et al.Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Am J Prev Med. 1998;14:245-258.
14.
Hillis S, Anda R, Felitti V, et al.Adverse childhood experiences and sexually transmitted diseases in men and women: a retrospective study. Pediatrics. 2000;106:E11.
15.
Dube S, Anda R, Felitti V, et al.Childhood abuse, household dysfunction, and the risk of suicide throughout the life span. JAMA. 2001;286:3089-3096.
16.
American Medical Association. American Medical Association diagnostic and treatment guidelines for domestic violence. Arch Fam Med. 1992;1:39-47.
17.
Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect, American Academy of Pediatrics. The role of pediatricians in recognizing and intervening on behalf of abused women. Pediatrics. 1998;101:1091-1092.
18.
Borowsky I, Ireland M. Parental screening for intimate partner violence by pediatricians and family physicians. Pediatrics. 2002;110:509-516.
19.
Erickson M, Hill T, Siegel R. Barriers to domestic violence screening in the pediatric setting. Pediatrics. 2001;108:98-102.
20.
Groves B, Augustyn M, Lee D, Sawires P. Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence Consensus Recommendations for Child and Adolescent Health. San Francisco, CA: Family Violence Prevention Fund; 2002.
21.
Wathen C, MacMillan H. Interventions for violence against women: scientific review. JAMA. 2003;289:589-600; e581-e510.
22.
Ramsey S, Abrams D. Child abuse and neglect. In: Children and the Law: In a Nutshell. St. Paul, MN: West Group; 2001:83-160.
23.
Rhodes K, Levinson W. Interventions for intimate partner violence against women: clinical applications. JAMA. 2003;289:601-605.
24.
US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for family and intimate partner violence: recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140:382-386.
25.
Krasnoff M, Moscati R. Domestic violence screening and referral can be effective. Ann Emerg Med. 2002;40:485-492.
26.
Zink T, Elder N, Jacobson J. Intimate partner violence: how the children affect the mother/victim's process. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003;157:587-592.
27.
Dowd M, Kennedy C, Knapp J, Stallbaumer-Rouyer J. Mothers' and health care providers' perspectives on screening for intimate partner violence in a pediatric emergency department. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2002;156:794-799.
28.
Schechter S, Edleson J. Effective Intervention in Domestic Violence and Child Maltreatment Cases: Guidelines for Policy and Practice, “The Greenbook.”Reno NV: National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Family Violence Department; 1998.
29.
Kaufman-Kantor G, Little L. Defining boundaries of child neglect: when does domestic violence equate with parental failure to protect? J Interpersonal Violence. 2003;18:338-355.
30.
Weithorn L. Protecting children from exposure to domestic violence: the use and abuse of child maltreatment statutes. Hastings Law J. 2001;53:1-156.
31.
Edleson J. Should childhood exposure to adult domestic violence be defined as child maltreatment under the law? April 2000, St. Paul, MN Accessed March 26, 2004. http://www.mincava.umn.edu/link/documents/shouldch/shouldch.doc.
32.
Zink T, Kamine D, Musk L, et al.What are physicians' reporting requirements for children who witness domestic violence (DV)? Clin Pediatr. 2004;43:449-460.
33.
Christian C, Scribano P, Seidl T, Pinto-Martin J. Pediatric injury resulting from family violence. Pediatrics. 1997;99:E8.
34.
Dillman D. Mail and Internet Surveys: The Tailored Design Method, 2nd ed.New York: John Wiley Company; 1999.
35.
Garbutt J, Jeffe D, Shackelford P. Diagnosis and treatment of acute otitis media: an assessment. Pediatrics. 2003;112:143-149.
36.
National Advisory Committee. National Consensus Guidelines: On Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence Victimization in the Health Care Setting. San Francisco, CA: Family Violence Prevention Fund; 2002.
