Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113718

Jill Silverman, MD and Patricia L. Stern, MPH, LMSW. New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, 622 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, 212 305 4710, jas2112@columbia.edu

Women who are victims of family violence frequently access healthcare services. Studies have shown that 10-30% of women attending community clinics are or have been victims of family violence. Women generally believe that it is appropriate for healthcare providers to ask about family violence but also have revealed patient barriers to disclosure. Barriers most frequently cited are fear of perpetrator, embarrassment, fear of loss of confidentiality. These studies have not been conducted among Latina women.

New York Presbyterian Hospital's ambulatory clinic network (ACN) is situated in the heart of the immigrant community of Northern Manhattan. The prevalence of domestic violence in this neighborhood is extremely high. In order to better service this Latina population, it is important to understand their attitudes with regard to discussing family violence with their healthcare providers: to whom would they be most likely to disclose, what would be the barriers to disclosure, and what services do they feel they need. In depth interviews and focus groups with 40 immigrant Latina women who have been involved in family violence relationships in the recent past were performed at a partnering community based organization, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation and at our health center. The results of these interviews and focus groups will be presented as well as the dynamics and process of collaboration between these agencies

Learning Objectives:

• Identify needs and barriers of immigrant women and children living with domestic violence to determine service needs.
• Increase knowledge, skills and cultural competence of service providers for immigrant women experiencing domestic violence.
• Discuss ways to enhance coordination and collaboration between a community based organization and academic medical centers.

Keywords: Domestic Violence,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.