ABSTRACT
Overview and epidemiology of domestic violence 177 Physical health effects of domestic violence 179 Domestic violence and women’s sexual health 179 Domestic violence during pregnancy 181 Domestic violence after childbirth 183 Domestic violence and women’s mental health 184 ‘Routine enquiry’, ‘screening’ and asking about domestic violence in
maternity care settings 185 Midwives working in partnership 186 Summary of key points 186 References 187 Further information 189 Further reading 190
Research has highlighted that domestic violence is a major health problem impacting on the health status of women and the utilization rates for health and reproductive care services. Increased understanding of the relationship between domestic violence and health has resulted in national and professional strategies calling for an enhanced midwifery role in maximizing the health of women experiencing domestic violence. Midwives have been identified as often being especially well placed to be able to identify and help tackle the problem of domestic violence (Royal College of Midwives 1997, Department of Health (DoH) 2000, Price et al. 2005). During the course of their clinical practice midwives are in a unique and important position to create safe clinical environments for assessing and effectively responding to domestic violence. The nature of the relationship between a woman and her midwife, and the fact that virtually every woman is seen by a midwife not once but many times during pregnancy, labour and after childbirth, means that a strong case has been made for midwives to enquire about domestic violence in maternity care settings (Price 2003, DoH 2004, Salmon et al. 2004).
