Skip to main content

USPSTF Recommends Screening for Domestic Violence in Pregnant, Postpartum Women

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Oct 29, 2024.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2024 -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening for intimate partner violence (IPV) in pregnant and postpartum women and women of reproductive age. This recommendation forms the basis of a draft recommendation statement published Oct. 29.

Researchers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in Rockville, Maryland, conducted a systematic review of the evidence on screening for IPV and caregiver abuse of older or vulnerable adults. Thirty-five studies with 18,358 participants were included. The researchers found that in three randomized clinical trials with 3,759 patients comparing IPV screening to no screening, there was no significant reduction seen in IPV or improvement in quality of life or other eligible outcomes over three to 18 months; no harms of screening were reported in two trials. Nine studies reported on the accuracy of nine tools for detecting past-year IPV; among these tools, sensitivity ranged from 26 to 87 percent and specificity varied from 80 to 97 percent. The accuracy of a tool for detecting ongoing or current relationship abuse varied widely. No studies examined the benefits or harms of screening or interventions for caregiver abuse of older or vulnerable adults or the accuracy of tests to detect abuse.

Based on these findings, the USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen pregnant and postpartum women and women of reproductive age for IPV (B recommendation). In older or vulnerable adults, the USPSTF concludes that the current evidence is inadequate for assessing the balance of benefits and harms of screening for caregiver abuse and neglect (I statement).

The draft recommendation statement and evidence review have been posted for public comment. Comments can be submitted from Oct. 29 through Nov. 25, 2024.

Draft Evidence Review

Draft Recommendation Statement

Comment on Recommendation Statement

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

American College of Surgeons, Oct. 19-22

The annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons was held this year from Oct. 19 to 22 in San Francisco and attracted participants from around the world, including...

Genome Sequencing Feasible for Newborn Screening

TUESDAY, Oct. 29, 2024 -- Genome sequencing of newborns is both feasible and acceptable for parents of a diverse newborn population, according to a study published online Oct. 24...

80.5 Percent of Teens Experience at Least One Adverse Childhood Experience

MONDAY, Oct. 28, 2024 -- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are very common among adolescents, with 80.5 percent experiencing at least one ACE, according to a study published...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.