RAISING THE ISSUE OF VIOLENCE

There is often anxiety amongst workers regarding how to raise the issue of FDV if they suspect that this is what is occurring. In addition, there is the compounding factor of clients who do not disclose violence because they are not asked by the health professional. Mazza, Dennerstein and Ryan (1996) in a study based on women attending general practices in Victoria found that the majority of respondents affected by violence had not disclosed because the health professional had not raised the issue of violence.

Listed below are a series of questions which health service staff can incorporate into their general work practice in order to ensure that they are providing all clients with the opportunity to disclose the violence.  

• Does your partner ever make you do things which make you feel uncomfortable, or which hurt you? Has your partner ever forced you to have sex when you didn’t want to?
  
• Has anyone ever forced you to do sexual things when you didn’t want to?
  
• Are you afraid for your safety or that of your children?
  
• You mentioned that your partner uses drugs/alcohol. How does s/he act when they are drinking/on drugs?
  
• Because abuse and violence are so common, I ask many female clients about it routinely.
  
• Are you (have you ever been) in a relationship in which you feel you are being treated badly? In what ways?
  
• We all have disagreements sometimes. What happens when you and your partner fight or disagree?
  
• I noticed you have a number of bruises. Could you tell me how they happened? Did someone hit you?
  
• Are you ever frightened of your partner?
  
• Many clients tell me they have been hurt by someone close to them. Could this be happening to you?
  
• Your partner seems very concerned and anxious. Was s/he responsible for your injuries?
  
• You seem frightened of your partner. Has s/he ever hurt you?
  
• Sometimes when others are over-protective and as jealous as you describe, they react strongly and use physical force. Is this happening in your situation?
  
• Have you ever been in a relationship where you have been hit, punched, kicked or hurt in any way? Are you in such a relationship now?
  
• You mentioned your spouse loses his temper with the children. Does he lose his temper with you?
  
• Does he become abusive when he loses his temper?
  
• What happens when you and your partner argue?
  
• Does your partner ever call you names or put you down?
  
• Does your partner destroy things you care about?
  
• Has your partner ever threatened to hurt you when you disagree with him?
  
• Have you ever been forced to engage in sex that made you feel uncomfortable?
  
• Does your partner watch your every move? Accuse you of having affairs?
  
• What’s your social life like? Do you have any friends here?
  
• Who controls the finances in your house?
  
• Who makes the rules? What happens when you don’t follow the rules?

(Taken from Office of Women’s Policy, Kelly, P. 1996, Domestic Violence Helpful Comments & Questions, 7th International Congress on Women’s Health Issues)

 There are a number of contexts in which it may be difficult or inappropriate to talk about FDV such as:

1. intoxicated patients;
   
2. hostile or abusive patients;
   
3. patients who cannot communicate directly due to language barriers (see Working with interpreters);
   
4. individuals who deny they have experienced violence;
   
5. those who are seriously unwell; and
   
6. patients who are hallucinating.

(Taken from Hotch, D. Grunfel, A. Mackay, K. Cowan, L., 1995, Domestic Violence Intervention by Emergency Department Staff Family Violence Prevention Division, Health Canada)

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Last Updated: Friday, 20 March 1998 10:28