Intimate partner violence (IPV) is recognized as a top public health issue with significant consequences for women’s health and well-being. In Illinois, trauma centers are succeeding at screening for IPV, yet progress can be made in providing uniform practices across centers.
Trauma centers can be important resources for victims of IPV, but these resources may vary tremendously across centers. For example, screening by health care providers, shelter referrals and counseling services are important components of care for IPV victims that may not be available at all trauma centers. Using a mailed survey with a 83 percent response rate, this study assessed IPV screening practices and resources and examined differences between rural and urban trauma centers in the state of Illinois.
Key Findings:
- Ninety percent of respondents had an IPV screening policy;
- All but one trauma center had IPV services available, including social work (93%), and 24 hour/day IPV teams (7%);
- Most centers (69%) felt IPV services were adequate;
- More rural respondents felt that IPV was a significant problem in their community.
Trauma centers in Illinois are generally succeeding at screening for IPV, yet one concern is the lack of uniformity of tools and services across centers.