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Resource Use by Abused Women Following an Intervention Program: Associated Severity of Abuse and Reports of Abuse Ending
Author(s) -
McFarlane Judith,
Soeken Karen,
Reel Sally,
Parker Barbara,
Silva Concepcion
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.1997.tb00297.x
Subject(s) - referral , psychological intervention , medicine , domestic violence , intervention (counseling) , suicide prevention , poison control , public health , psychiatry , family medicine , medical emergency , nursing
Although violence against women is recognized as a major public health problem, little is known about the effectiveness of interventions. To evaluate severity of abuse and use of community resources following an intervention program, 132 pregnant abused women received three counseling sessions in a prenatal setting. A comparison group of 67 abused women were offered a wallet‐sized card listing community resources for violence. Resource use, severity of abuse, and reports of the abuse ending were measured for both groups at 6 and 12 months after delivery. Resource use was significantly ( p ≤ .001) related to severity of abuse, irrespective of whether the woman had received the intervention. Women using resources at 6 months were also users at 12 months. These findings indicate a “survivorship model” whereby abused women assertively and persistently seek a variety of community resources to end the abuse. The recommendation that primary care providers go beyond traditional identification and referral for abuse to coordination and evaluation of service delivery is discussed.