Screening refers to the application of standardised questions according to a procedure that does not vary from place to place. This has the advantages of early identification, prompt management and referral of intimate partner violence (IPV) victims, it is costeffective and not harmful to women. The aim of this study is to investigate the midwives’ current screening practice for IPV among pregnant women in a Northern Nigerian hospital. Descriptive qualitative research design was used for this study. Purposive sampling technique was used to select instrument used to ten midwives for this study. The instrument used to collect data was non participant observations and individual face-to-face interviews which was achieved through data saturation in the antenatal clinic of a tertiary hospital. Thematic data analysis was carried out, using Yin’s five stages of analytical cycle. The findings revealed that two themes emerged from the data, selective screening for IPV and discriminatory screening of HIV-positive women for IPV. It was found that routine screening for IPV was not practiced by midwives. In conclusion, Routine screening for IPV is a very important midwifery practice for the safety of both pregnant women and their foetus. This is not currently being practised, to achieve this, explicit policies on IPV screening and adequate training of midwives must be implemented by Ministries of health, Nursing and Midwifery Council, and hospital managers.
- MUSA-MALIKI | U. | AYISHETU | aumusamaliki@abu.edu.ng | +234 7038159582, SINEGUGU | E. | DUMA | dumas1@ukzn.ac.za | +27 824492635
- Midwives screening practice; Routine Screening; Intimate PartnerViolence
- Lautech Paper 13-c8c85da2