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Editorial
. 2004 Oct;1(1):e4.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0010004. Epub 2004 Oct 19.

Should health professionals screen all women for domestic violence?

Ann Taket  1 , C Nadine Wathen, Harriet Macmillan
Affiliations
Editorial

Should health professionals screen all women for domestic violence?

Ann Taket et al. PLoS Med. 2004 Oct.

Abstract

The US and Canadian task forces on preventive health recently declared that there is not enough evidence to recommend for or against routine universal screening of women for domestic violence. Yet some experts argue that routine enquiry is justified.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: Ann Taket declares that she has no competing interests.

Competing Interests: Nadine Wathen holds a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)–Ontario Women's Health Council Fellowship. Harriet MacMillan holds research funding from the CIHR Institutes of Gender and Health; Aging; Human Development, Child and Youth Health; Neuroscience, Mental Health, and Addiction; and Population and Public Health, and from the Ontario Women's Health Council.

Figures

None
Women experiencing violence often feel alone and ashamed
(Illustration: Margaret Shear, Public Library of Science)
None
There are potential harms from “asking the question”
(Illustration: Margaret Shear, Public Library of Science)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Krug G, Dahlberg L, Mercy J, Zwi A, Lozano Generve R, editors. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002. World report on violence and health. Available: http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/world_report/en/. Accessed 23 July 2004.
    1. Taket A, Nurse J, Smith K, Watson J, Shakespeare J, et al. Routinely asking women about domestic violence in health settings. BMJ. 2003;327:673–676. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ramsay J, Richardson J, Carter YH, Davidson L, Feder G. Should health professionals screen women for domestic violence? Systematic review. BMJ. 2002;325:314. - PMC - PubMed
    1. UK National. Screening Committee. Domestic Violence National Screening Committee Policy Position—March 2004. 2004 Available: http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/screening/adult_pps/domestic_violence.html. Accessed 9 August 2004.
    1. US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for family and intimate partner violence: Summary of recommendations. 2004 Available: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsfamv.htm. Accessed 23 July 2004. - PubMed

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