Overcoming clinical challenges in addressing intimate partner violence with pregnant and parenting adolescents

IPV rates for adolescents seeking prenatal care range from 37% to 16%. Though programs for pregnant and parenting adolescents focus on educational, economic, and parenting outcomes, but don't always considering the impact of partner violence on these outcomes. Research has identified some of the organizational barriers to addressing IPV in health and health-care related settings, this study goes further in examining service providers' perceptions of adolescent IPV barriers and their strategies to overcome these barriers. Data from focus groups with service providers (n = 43) who work with pregnant and parenting adolescents was thematically analyzed data to learn about barriers and strategies for addressing IPV. Service providers described four primary barriers to addressing IPV with their adolescent clients: adolescent clients' definitions of love, intergenerational relationship patterns, cultural norms about gender and violence, and developmental-contextual considerations. Service providers also indicated that they respond to adolescents' IPV related concerns by taking steps to identify IPV, building working relationships, and taking appropriate follow-up action. Results suggest that providers can benefit from increased training and skill development in working with IPV, as well as working in interdisciplinary, collaborative teams to increase effectiveness with challenging cases. Programs should consider integrating IPV prevention initiatives that target broader social norms. Future research should pilot and test the effectiveness of targeted IPV training and programmatic interventions with service providers who work with this population.