Recognizing and treating victims of domestic violence in health care settings: Guidelines and training for health professionals

POND_SiZdrav

Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Partner 1: Medical Chamber of Slovenia

Partner 2: Centre for Social Work Maribor

Partner 3: EMMA Institution, the Centre for helping victims of violence

Partner 4: St. Olavs Hospital, Avdeling Brøset - St. Olavs Hospital

12.02.2015 - 30.06.2016

638,886.16 EUR

606,941.85 EUR

Public health initiatives

Reduced inequalities between user groups

The lack of systemic and binding procedures for recognition and treating domestic violence victims within healthcare services is manifested in Slovenia alongside inconsistent reporting on such violence by health workers and weak inter-sectoral cooperation. The main objective of the project is the implementation of the Family Violence Prevention Act in the health sector in order to increase the competence of health workers to recognise domestic violence. The project will also establish inter-sectoral treatment of victims and perpetrators of domestic violence comparable to international practice in this area. In this respect, an educational platform will be established with several tools available to ensure improved recognition and treatment of domestic violence victims in healthcare settings. Educational trainings for 1600-2000 health workers in the area of family medicine, paediatrics, gynaecology, psychiatry, home care nursing, urgent (trauma) units, hospital units and counselling services from all Slovenian regions will be carried out in order to encourage inter-sectoral cooperation and good practices of responding to domestic violence. The rich experiences of the Norwegian partner enable it to contribute to the implementation of the trainings for healthcare workers in Slovenia.