How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative study
Abstract Objective: Reproductive abuse is defined as a deliberate attempt to control or interfere with a woman’s reproductive choices. It is associated with a range of negative health outcomes and presents a hidden challenge for health practitioners. There is a dearth of research on reproductive abu...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2019-10-01
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| Series: | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12923 |
| _version_ | 1797758022073712640 |
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| author | Laura Tarzia Molly Wellington Jennifer Marino Kelsey Hegarty |
| author_facet | Laura Tarzia Molly Wellington Jennifer Marino Kelsey Hegarty |
| author_sort | Laura Tarzia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Objective: Reproductive abuse is defined as a deliberate attempt to control or interfere with a woman’s reproductive choices. It is associated with a range of negative health outcomes and presents a hidden challenge for health practitioners. There is a dearth of research on reproductive abuse, particularly qualitative research. This study aims to address this gap by exploring how health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured interviews with n=17 health practitioners working across multiple disciplines within a large metropolitan public hospital in Victoria. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Three themes were developed: Figuring out that something is wrong; Creating a safe space to work out what she wants; and Everyone needs to do their part. Conclusions: Practitioners relied on intuition developed through experience to identify reproductive abuse. Once identified, most practitioners described a woman‐led response promoting safety; however, there were inconsistencies in how this was enacted across different professions. Lack of clarity around the level of response required was also a barrier. Implications for public health: Our findings highlight the pressing need for evidence‐based guidelines for health practitioners and a ‘best practice’ model specific to reproductive abuse. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:23:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a76f857b8724c30bed6fce539d1bf82 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1326-0200 1753-6405 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:23:52Z |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a76f857b8724c30bed6fce539d1bf822023-08-02T08:39:30ZengElsevierAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health1326-02001753-64052019-10-0143545746310.1111/1753-6405.12923How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative studyLaura Tarzia0Molly Wellington1Jennifer Marino2Kelsey Hegarty3Department of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, VictoriaDepartment of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, VictoriaDepartment of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne and the Royal Women’s Hospital, VictoriaDepartment of General Practice, The University of Melbourne, VictoriaAbstract Objective: Reproductive abuse is defined as a deliberate attempt to control or interfere with a woman’s reproductive choices. It is associated with a range of negative health outcomes and presents a hidden challenge for health practitioners. There is a dearth of research on reproductive abuse, particularly qualitative research. This study aims to address this gap by exploring how health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured interviews with n=17 health practitioners working across multiple disciplines within a large metropolitan public hospital in Victoria. Data were analysed thematically. Results: Three themes were developed: Figuring out that something is wrong; Creating a safe space to work out what she wants; and Everyone needs to do their part. Conclusions: Practitioners relied on intuition developed through experience to identify reproductive abuse. Once identified, most practitioners described a woman‐led response promoting safety; however, there were inconsistencies in how this was enacted across different professions. Lack of clarity around the level of response required was also a barrier. Implications for public health: Our findings highlight the pressing need for evidence‐based guidelines for health practitioners and a ‘best practice’ model specific to reproductive abuse.https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12923reproductive coercionhealth practitionersqualitative methodsviolence against women |
| spellingShingle | Laura Tarzia Molly Wellington Jennifer Marino Kelsey Hegarty How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative study Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health reproductive coercion health practitioners qualitative methods violence against women |
| title | How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative study |
| title_full | How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative study |
| title_short | How do health practitioners in a large Australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse? A qualitative study |
| title_sort | how do health practitioners in a large australian public hospital identify and respond to reproductive abuse a qualitative study |
| topic | reproductive coercion health practitioners qualitative methods violence against women |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.12923 |
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