The battered woman

Abstract

There are battered women in every obstetrician-gynecologist's practice. A role for the physicians is to be an agent of change for the patient. This is accomplished by integrating questions related to woman battering in all primary care, obstetric, and gynecologic evaluations and by becoming informed about and referring to the resources for battered women in the community. An activist role in the community that encourages and supports zero tolerance for domestic violence will help stop this epidemic and crime.

PIP: This paper presents the roles of obstetricians and gynecologists in cases of female battery. It aims to encourage the reader to 1) integrate questions related to woman battering in the primary care, obstetric, and gynecologic evaluations of all patients; 2) become informed about the resources for battered women; and 3) become advocates in support of their local authorities against spouse abuse. There are six issues that must be addressed by the obstetrician-gynecologist in the provision of primary care for abused women. The first issue is awareness of battering as an epidemic that affects all levels of socioeconomic class. The second issue is the inclusion of abuse questions during routine check-ups through active inquiry and giving of local hotline numbers to potential victims. The third issue is the ability to validate the feelings of the patient and refer her according to her wishes and needs. The fourth issue involves examination of the attitudes and beliefs of the physician on women battering, replacing myths with facts that will allow appropriate and effective advice and counsel. The fifth issue is a self-awareness of abuse in one's personal and professional life. The final issue is for the physician to take a leadership role in the community's fight against domestic violence.