Helping Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Background

 When intimate partner violence and sexual coercion are disclosed by family planning clients, providers can be reluctant to directly address the issue. Perceived barriers to helping victims include an inability to spend enough time with clients, limited training and skills, lack of referral services or effective interventions, fear of offending clients and concern about legal consequences.

Title X providers are legally obligated to provide confidential healthcare services to adolescents. They are also required to comply with Texas laws (See Family Planning Policy Manual) for the reporting of statutory rape, abuse and neglect of minors. The Title X Grant requirements state that contractors must provide counseling to minors on how to resist attempts at being coerced into engaging in sexual activity.

Having clear policies and procedures, institutional support, referral networks in place, staff training and a positive provider attitude toward victims goes a long way to support clients and staff.

Each agency may want to develop its own definition of sexual coercion or adapt the one in this article. Symptoms of intimate partner violence may include recurrent STIs, Bacterial Vaginosis or unintended pregnancy. There are also mental and emotional symptoms such as poor school attendance, depression, or self-abuse. Experiencing pressure to have sex against one’s will may or may not include physical violence, verbal threats, guilt or blackmail. Young people or adults may discount sexual coercion, especially if the relationship has previously been sexually consensual or has been going on for awhile and a partner relationship has been established. Use of drugs and alcohol can lead to the misreading of cues for sexual activity. It may also limit a person’s ability to ward off advances or attack.

Counseling may be as simple as listening without judgment. It is best to avoid assessing blame. When blame is involved, the client may feel the need to defend his or her partner. Encourage couple communication if possible and affirm the client’s right to say “no”. The use of an educational pamphlet and referral to a rape crisis center or school counselor may be something the client had not considered. As always, encouraging the inclusion of family members and friends for support is an important component. Remember to document the client’s chart so that follow-up is possible.

For More Information Regarding This Article Contact:
Alex Fisher, Program Specialist, Preventive Care Branch
ph. 512.458.7111, ext. 2141