Objectives:: After completing this article, readers should:
Know the prevalence of intimate partner violence and childhood exposure to intimate partner violence
Identify risk factors associated with intimate partner violence.
Understand that child maltreatment is significantly more likely in the setting of intimate partner violence.
Recognize the impact of intimate partner violence exposure on children's social-emotional and physical health, and on their health care use.
Understand strategies for screening and responding to intimate partner violence in the pediatric setting
You are seeing a healthy, previously full-term 4 month old for well child care. As a part of your routine social history, you inquire about intimate partner violence (IPV). The infant's mother discloses that her partner frequently yells at her, pushes her and makes her feel afraid. Upon further questioning, you find that she describes the infant as “fussy.” His physical exam is unremarkable, but you note that he missed his two month visit and is behind on his immunizations. How do you proceed?