Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Atencion Primaria logoLink to Atencion Primaria
. 2008 Dec 20;40(9):455–461. [Article in Spanish] doi: 10.1157/13126422

Detección de violencia contra la mujer en la consulta del médico de familia

Detection of violence against women in the family doctor clinic

Juan Manuel García Torrecillas a,b,⁎, Jesús Torío Durántez a, María del Carmen Lea Pereira c, María del Carmen García Tirado a, Ramiro Aguilera Tejero d
PMCID: PMC7659843  PMID: 19054441

Abstract

Objectives

To find out the magnitude of violence against female partners among patients who visit their family doctor.To study frequency and acceptance of its investigation by the family doctor and to assess the effectiveness of a screening question on abuse.

Design

Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Setting

Primary care, 4 samples from 2 urban health centres in Jaén, Spain.

Participants

Who participated 170 women randomly selected from the female consulting population.

Measurements

Interviews by means of the Bradley modified test and the anxiety and depression Goldberg scales. Perceived health, frequency of detection of domestic violence, by the family doctor, and female opinions were also studied.

Results

During the last year, abuse against women was detected in 22.9% of the female population consulting their family doctor (95% confidence interval [95% CI],16.6-29.2). Abused women had a worse perception of health (odds ratio [OR] =4.2;95% CI, 1.02-17.5) and a higher probability of depression (OR=4.7; 95% CI, 1.8-12.5) independently from the rest of variables. The question “How are the things going with your partner?” as a screening of abuse does obtain a positive probability quotient of 6.23 (95% CI, 3.6-10.9), a specificity of 89% and a negative predictive value of 90%. Of those interviewed, 96.5% would not mind if their family doctor approached the couple’s relationships, a situation that occurs in 24.7% of cases.

Conclusions

Some degree of abuse was detected in almost a quarter of women who consult their family doctor. Family doctors do not usually ask about family and partner relationships and environment, although for almost all women it is well appreciated and the item has an increased likelihood ratio and high negative predictive value in detecting abuse.

Key words: Women, Abuse, Perceived health

Bibliografía

  • 1.ONU . ONU; New York: 1994. Asamblea general de Naciones Unidas. Declaración sobre la eliminación de la violencia con la mujer. 20 de diciembre de 1993. Resolución A/RES/48/104. [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Ruiz-Pérez I., Plazaola-Castaño J., Blanco-Prieto P., González-Barranco J.M., Ayuso-Martín P., Montero-Piñar M.I. La violencia contra la mujer en la pareja. Un estudio en el ámbito de la atención primaria. Gac Sanit. 2006;20:302–308. doi: 10.1157/13088851. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.García-Linares M.I., Sánchez-Lorente S., Coe C.L., Martínez M. Intimate male partner violence impairs immune control over herpes simples virus type 1 in physical and pychological intimate abused women. Psychosom Med. 2004;66:965–972. doi: 10.1097/01.psy.0000145820.90041.c0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Krug E, Dahlberg L, Mercy J, Zwy A,Lozano R.World report on violence and health. Geneva:World Health Organization; 2002.
  • 5.García-Moreno C, coordinador. Estudio multipaís de la OMS sobre salud de la mujer y violencia doméstica. Primeros resultados sobre prevalencia, eventos relativos a la salud y respuestas de las mujeres a dicha violencia. Ginebra: Organización Mundial de la Salud; 2005.
  • 6.III Macroencuesta sobre la violencia contra las mujeres. Informe de resultados. Madrid: Ministerio de Asuntos Sociales. Instituto de la Mujer; 2006.
  • 7.Bradley F., Smith M., Long J., O’Dowd T. Reported frequency of domestic violence: cross sectional survey of women attending general practice. BMJ. 2002;324:271–274. doi: 10.1136/bmj.324.7332.271. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Richardson J., Coid M., Petruckevitcn A., Chung W.S., Moorey S., Feder G. Identifying domestic violence: cross sectional study in primary care. BMJ. 2001;324:274–277. doi: 10.1136/bmj.324.7332.274. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Ruiz Pérez I., Plazaola Castaño J., Álvarez Kindelán M., Palomo Pinto M., Arnalte Barrera M., Bonet Pla A. Sociodemographic associations of physical, emotional, and sexual intimate partner violence in spanish women. Ann Epidemiol. 2006;16:357–363. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2005.03.007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Raya Ortega L., Ruiz Pérez J., Plazaola Castaño J., Brun López-Abisab S., Rueda Lozano D., García de Vinuesa L. La violencia contra la mujer en la pareja como factor asociado a una mala salud física y psíquica. Aten Primaria. 2004;34:117–127. doi: 10.1016/S0212-6567(04)79480-9. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Campbell J.C., Snow-Jones A., Dienemann J.A., Kub J., Schollengberger J., O’Campo P. Intimate partner violence and physical health consequences. Arch Intern Med. 2002;162:1157–1163. doi: 10.1001/archinte.162.10.1157. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Larizgoitia I. La violencia también es un problema de salud pública. Gac Sanit. 2006;20(Suppl 1):63–70. doi: 10.1157/13086028. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Alpert E. Violence in intimate relationships and the practicing internist: new «disease» or nev agenda? Am Intern Med. 1995;123:774–781. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-123-10-199511150-00006. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Zink T., Regan S., Goldenhar L., Pabst S., Rinto B. Intimate partner violence:What are Physician’s perceptions? J Am Board Fam Pract. 2004;17:332–340. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.17.5.332. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Ramsay J., Richardson J., Carter Y., Davidson L., Feder G. Should health professionals screen women for domestic violence? Systematic review. BMJ.com. 2002;325:314. doi: 10.1136/bmj.325.7359.314. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Gutmanis I., Beyunon C., Tutty L., Wathen N., MacMillan H. Factors influencing identification of and response to intimate partner violence: a survey of physicians and nurses. BMC Public Health. 2007;7:12. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-7-12. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Delgado A., Aguar M., Castellano M., Luna del Castillo J.D. Validación de una escala para la medición de los malos tratos a mujeres. Aten Primaria. 2006;38:82–89. doi: 10.1157/13090429. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.McCord-Duncan E., Floyd M., Kemps E., Bailey B., Lang F. Detecting potential intimate partner violence: which approach do women want? Fam Med. 2006;38:416–422. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Krug E, Dahlberg L, Mercy J, Zwi A, Lozano R. World report on violence and health. Geneva:World Health Organization; 2002.
  • 20.World Health Organisation. Puttingh womens’s safety first; ethical and safety recommendations for research on domestic violence against women. Global Programme on Evidence for Health Policy. Genève:World Health Organisation; 1999.
  • 21.Goldberg D.P., Bridges K., Duncan-Jones P., Grayson D. Detecting anxiety and depression in general medical settings. BMJ. 1988;97:897–899. doi: 10.1136/bmj.297.6653.897. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 22.Montón C., Pérez Echevarría M.J., Campos R., García Campayo J. Lobo A y GMPPZ. Escalas de ansiedad y depresión de Golberg:una guía de entrevista eficaz para la detección del malestar psíquico. Aten Primaria. 1993;12:345–349. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 23.Pozo F. Utilización clínica de las pruebas diagnósticas. In: Argimón J., Bañeras J., Barona C., Belda J., Bordes P., editors. Tratado de Epidemiología Clínica. DuPont Pharma; Madrid: 1995. [Google Scholar]
  • 24.Aguar-Fernández M., Delgado-Sánchez A., Castellano-Arroyo M., Luna del Castillo J.D. Prevalencia de malos tratos en mujer. Aten Primaria. 2006;37:241–242. doi: 10.1157/13085958. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 25.Kramer A., Lorenzon D., Mueller G. Prevalence of intimate partner violence and health implications for vomen using emergency departments and primary care clinics. Women Health Issues. 2004;14:19–119. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2003.12.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 26.Vives C., Álvarez-Dardet C., Caballero P. Violencia del compañero íntimo en España. Gac Sanit. 2003;17:268–274. doi: 10.1016/s0213-9111(03)71746-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 27.Blanco P., Ruiz-Jarabo C., García de Vinuesa L., Martín-García M. La violencia de pareja y la salud de las mujeres. Gac Sanit. 2004;18(Supl 1):182–188. doi: 10.1157/13062524. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 28.Rodríguez E., Gómez A. Estudio descriptivo de los trastornos de ánimo en la población mayor de 65 años que acude a consulta en un medio rural. Semergen. 2004;30:320–325. [Google Scholar]
  • 29.Icart M.T., Pulpón A., Icart C., Bielsa M. Maltrato psicológico en una muestra de mujeres atendidas en atención primaria. Aten Primaria. 2006;38:580–581. doi: 10.1157/13095933. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 30.Hathaway J.E., Mucci L.A., Silverman J.C., Brooks D.R., Mathews R., Pavlos C.A. Health status and health care use of Massachussets women reporting partner abuse. Am J Prev Med. 2000;19:302–307. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(00)00236-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 31.Fernández M.C. Violencia doméstica: ¿conocemos los efectos de la violencia sobre la salud de las víctimas? Aten Primaria. 2004;34:125–127. doi: 10.1016/S0212-6567(04)79481-0. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 32.Waalen J., Goodwin M., Spitz A., Petersen R., Saltzman L. Screening for intimate partner violence by health care providers. Am J Prevent Med. 2000;19:230–237. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(00)00229-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 33.Feder B.S., Hutson M., Ramsay J., Taket A.R. Women exposed to intimate partner violence: expectations and experiences when they encounter health care professionals: a meta-analisys of qualtitative studies. Arch Intern Med. 2006;166:22–37. doi: 10.1001/archinte.166.1.22. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 34.Nicolaidis C., Curry M., Gerrity M. Health care workers’ expectations and empathy toward patients in abusive relationships. J Am Board Fam Prat. 2005;18:159–165. doi: 10.3122/jabfm.18.3.159. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 35.Feldhaus K.M., Koziols-McLain J., Amsbury H.L., Norton I.M., Lowenstein S.R., Abott J.T. Accuracy of 3 brief screening questions for detecting partner violence in the emergency department. JAMA. 1997;277:1357–1361. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Atencion Primaria are provided here courtesy of Elsevier

RESOURCES