Family violence issues in obstetrics and gynecology, primary care, and nursing texts.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate major texts in obstetrics and gynecology, primary care, and nursing for their content in the area of family violence.

METHODS

The study included 48 medical texts and 19 nursing texts published between 1990 and 1996. Key words and phrases were identified and indices searched. Minimum requirements for content on domestic violence included 12 issues identified as important. If the text contained any information on an issue, it received one point. A domestic violence content score was calculated, and a maximum score of 12 was possible. Textbooks were evaluated for content related to domestic violence as well as rape, child sexual abuse, abuse in pregnancy, and elder abuse.

RESULTS

Thirty-seven percent of physician texts and 63% of nursing texts included some content on domestic violence. On our domestic violence content scale, 16% of medicine texts and 10% of nursing texts scored 9-12.

CONCLUSION

The availability of information on family violence is limited in both medical and nursing texts.