Use of nonmedical and pediatric primary care medical services by families who call police for domestic violence-related issues

Violence Against Women. 2011 Nov;17(11):1409-20. doi: 10.1177/1077801211428901. Epub 2011 Nov 21.

Abstract

This study considers domestic violence (DV) victims' court and social service utilization (n = 86). We next examine the victims' pediatric provider to explore pediatricians' roles in a community-based response to DV. Sixty-five percent of the sample who used DV-related services interacted with the pediatric community. Pediatric inner-city clinic-based patients appear in the welfare management system and child protective system at similar rates as private pediatric patients. However, clinic-based patients appear in family court more than privately based patients (91% vs. 57%). Data suggest that all pediatric providers should screen, assess, and refer parents for DV.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child Health Services*
  • Child Welfare
  • Child, Preschool
  • Criminal Law*
  • Domestic Violence*
  • Family*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Pediatrics
  • Physician's Role*
  • Physicians
  • Police*
  • Primary Health Care
  • Social Work*
  • Urban Health