The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69275

E. Carolyn Olson, BS, MPH candidate¹, Leslie Rottenberg, MSW², Vicki Breitbart, EdD, MSW, MS³, Lynne Stevens, CSW, BCD⁴, Vaughn I Rickert, PsyD⁵, and Leslie L. Davidson, MD, MSc¹. (1) Heilbrunn Dept. of Population and Family Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave. B-2, New York, NY 10032, 212-304-5547, eco2005@columbia.edu, (2) Executive Office, Planned Parenthood New York City, Margaret Sanger Square, 26 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012, (3) Executive Office, Planned Parenthood of New York City, Inc (PPNYC), Margaret Sanger Square, 26 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012, (4) Independent Consultant, 159 W. 95 St., New York, NY 10025, (5) Center for Community Health and Education, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave, B-3, New York, NY 10032

Despite the high prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in adolescents and young adult women and its negative impact on mental, physical and reproductive health, little research has addressed age-specific healthcare interventions for IPV in younger women. Research on IPV screening has been based almost exclusively on samples of adult women; few papers were located that focused on screening and referral of adolescent and young adult patients. In fact, we could not identify any research that asked adolescents about their expectations for IPV screening or their experiences in reporting IPV to healthcare providers. Given research on adolescent development and differences in adolescent peer relationships and communication, it would be expected that the needs of this population are different, thus requiring alternative approaches to healthcare screening and interventions. As a result, Planned Parenthood New York City (PPNYC) and The Heilbrunn Dept. of Population and Family Health at Columbia University are collaborating on a project to investigate how and whether to screen for IPV among adolescent and young adult women. We will report on the first steps of this collaboration: the results of an PPNYC audit of current IPV screening practices stratified by age, and data from a healthcare provider survey on the specific barriers experienced in talking with adolescents and young adult women about IPV. This presentation will present a review of service-based data on providers' experiences in identifying adolescent victims of IPV and present the rationale for age-specific approaches targeting this population.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• To identify the need for age-specific approaches to IPV screening.
• To take account of adolescent development in the development and implementation of healthcare IPV interventions.
• To critically evaluate the clinical effectiveness of and the evidence for IPV screening interventions.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.