Review article
Family violence: What health workers can do
Dean Ajduković
orcid.org/0000-0001-9223-360X
; Department of psychology, Faculty of phylosophy, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Marina Ajduković
; Center for social work, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Family violence is a set of behaviors aimed to control family members by force, intimidation
and manipulation. Different forms of violence and abuse are psychological, physical,
sexual and economic. Most common victims are children, women, elderly and people
with special needs. Health workers have a major role in early recognition and prevention of
family violence because they are the professionals with who most people get in contact during
their life time and who have an opportunity to create a confidential environment. The
victims typically deny family violence because they fear their safety may be compromised,
feel shame of having a violent family, and due to the specific dynamics of violent relationship
that leaves the victim powerless and loyal to the perpetrator. Physicians and nurses often
hesitate to discuss the family violence with their patients, so that only about one quarter
of female victims of physical violence talk about it with their general practitioner, mostly
because the physician did not ask about it. Therefore it is important to increase the capacity
of health workers to recognize the signs of violence, know what to do and become willing to
help stop the violence. They are legally mandated to report family violence cases to police
and public prosecutor. This is consistent with the professional ethnic since the patients’
complaints need to be investigated even when they are of non-medical nature, health workers
can help a victim avoid and decrease exposure to violence, thus contributing to decrease
in poor health outcomes, and they can help save lives and health because family violence
recurs and escalates.
Keywords
domestic violence; family violence; partner violence; role of health workers; violence prevention
Hrčak ID:
59254
URI
Publication date:
13.9.2010.
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