Health Workers Frontrunners In Detecting Domestic Violence
By Finaz Daniel

Bandar Seri Begawan - Health professionals assistance in the detection and management of domestic violence cases and the importance of multidisciplinary team approach were stressed at a symposium of domestic violence yesterday.

One of the speakers, Dr Hjh Rafidah Hj Gharif, senior medical officer at the Health Services Department, related six real life cases of domestic violence identified through primary health care that involved married women with children who were abused by their husbands.

Through these real cases and due to the multiple visits made by these women to health centres and the accident and emergency ward at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (Ripas) Hospital, it was determined that each case of abuse was not a one-time event and that the level of violence tended to escalate.

In all the cases cited it was evident that these women were fear-stricken, some enough to report the abuse whereas others were in denial or too afraid to even file in the report.

The situations were worsened when many of the health professionals were not trained on how to ask questions appropriately and sensitively.

A recent study in the US revealed that 70 to 80 per cent of abused women would like their healthcare providers to ask them privately about their partner's violence.

It becomes the healthcare provider's duty, therefore, to ask questions which do offend any individuals they have established to be involved in domestic violence.

Certain injuries should trigger concern and health professionals should then know what question to ask that the victim would feel at ease to talk about it.

According to Community Development Director Datin Hjh Adina Hj Othman, nobody can force a woman who lives in a violent relationship to report the abuse, however, healthcare providers can make the effort to let her know that other options are available for her and her children. "They must be the ones to decide to take that step so the most useful thing to do is to guide and counsel them," she said.

"These abused individuals always think they're alone in the world and that they deserve the abuse they get so it is our place to counsel them to give them the strength they need," she added.

She said too many people believe that domestic violence is a private matter between a couple, rather than a criminal offence that merits a swift and strong response.

"Silence is the abuser's best friend," said the director, adding that efforts to break the silence can make a difference.

Datin Hjh Adina disclosed that at present, there is no legislation specific to domestic violence and that the draft of the domestic violence order is still being considered by relevant authorities.

She proposed that medical professionals should come up with some kind of colour code to differentiate between domestic violence cases and normal medical cases.

She further suggested establishing a one-stop crisis centre where a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, counsellors, educators and lawyers can provide privacy, guidance, counselling and comfort to victims of domestic violence. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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