Domestic violence during pregnancy: Midwives׳ experiences. Issue 5 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mauri, Elisa Marta; Nespoli, Antonella; Persico, Giuseppina; Zobbi, Virna Franca
• Is Part Of: Midwifery. Volume 31:Issue 5(2015)
• Page Start: 498
• Page End: 504
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Midwifery -- Periodicals; Midwifery -- Periodicals; Sages-femmes -- Périodiques; Midwifery; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618.2005
• DOI: 10.1016/j.midw.2015.02.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-6138

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="ab0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Objective</title> <p id="sp0015">the aim of this qualitative study was to explore midwives׳ knowledge and clinical experience of domestic violence among pregnant women, with particular emphasis on their perceptions of their professional role.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Design</title> <p id="sp0020">the data collected for this phenomenological-hermeneutical qualitative study were collected using semi-structured interviews, and analysed according to <xref id="cr0030" rid="bib6">Denzin and Lincoln (2011)</xref>.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Setting and participants</title> <p id="sp0025">fifteen hospital and community midwives working in the local health district of Monza and Brianza in northern Italy were recruited between July and October 2012.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Findings</title> <p id="sp0030">three main themes emerged: 'it is difficult to recognise domestic violence' because of a limited knowledge of the most common signs and symptoms of violence, a lack of training, cultural taboos, and the women׳s unwillingness to disclose abuse; 'we have a certain number of means of identifying violence', such as relationships with the woman, specific professional training and screening tools, which have advantages and disadvantages; 'the professionals involved' in identifying and managing family violence highlight the importance of a interdisciplinary approach.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0030">Key conclusions and implications for practice</title> <p id="sp0035">midwives acknowledge their crucial role in identifying and managing domestic violence but are still unprepared to do so and indicate various barriers that need to be overcome. There is a need to implement basic university education on the subject and provide specific professional training.</p> </sec> </abstract>