Domestic Violence and Child Abuse: Implications for Healthcare Workers

Introduction
Health care professionals have a huge responsibility to provide care, support and protect the
patients and victims of abuse in order to improve their health conditions. Health care
providers are often the first one to recognize the signs of the abuse and the patients get
medical help from them. It is important for patients to get appropriate, accurate, empowering
and sensitive care and support from the health professionals.
This allows health worker to offer help in case they see any kind of abusive problem and
suggest appropriate way to prevent violence or abuse. They should provide support and offer
counselling services that can have positive impact on the victim’s health. They can refer such
cases to social worker in the hospital to make plans or policy that ensures safety of the
victims. Mostly women, younger children and older people are the victim of violence and
abuse from their own family members, friends, care giver etc. Abuse means any deliberate
behaviour or action by an individual in a position of trust like friends and family that causes
distress or harm to the people. This type of violence causes physical, mental or emotional
harm and also may cause material and financial abuse, neglect, abandonment, serious loss of
respect and dignity. Elderly abuse, child abuse and domestic violence are the major societal
issues.
Legal and professional issues
There are many legal and professional that health care worker has to face when they come in
contact with the victim of domestic violence and other abuse. Health care providers can play
important part in helping and assisting victims to combat issues related to abuses. When
nurses get to know about the violence they need to discuss with their seniors and then report
it to police or concerned department. Along with the victim health professionals have to go
through many legal procedures. Many victims do not contact any advocacy organizations,
police, shelters or prosecutors. In this case health care providers assist them to take further
action against the people who has caused them distress. Health practitioners have to go
through many legal formalities like assessment, documentation and other reports according to
the law and policies of organization. They might face cultural issues, language barriers when
the victims are from different community. Many nurses are underprepared so they might lack
the knowledge which is required while dealing with these violence or victim issues. They
might not have all information about the law codes and legislation against such violence.
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Child abuse
Child abuse is a behaviour, inaction or action by an adult towards a young person or child
that harms the child. It is considered as one of the most serious public health problems. It can
be a single or number of incidents that takes place. It can result from emotional, physical and
sexual harm (Schols, et al., 2013).
According to Child Protection Act 1999, if child is suffering harm or has suffered harm, or is
at risk of suffering harm and their parents are not willing or able to protect them from harm is
considered as child abuse. There are four types of child abuse which involves emotion,
sexual, physical and neglect (Anon., 2017).
Health care professionals like nurses and doctors encounter almost every child due to nature
of their job and play an important role in the detection of child abuse and reporting it
(Phillips, 2009). However, they only report few cases of abuse to child protective agencies.
All health professionals should be aware of their responsibilities which are related to the legal
frame work i.e. The child Protection Act 1999 and the child protection (Anon., 2015).
According to research women who are victims of domestic violence do not seek help from
professional directly. There are several barriers or issues for victims to not disclose violence
they suffer (Anon., 2017). These barriers are as follows:
 Commitment to the relationship
 Fear for children, family and own safety
 Shame and embarrassment
 Stress and depression
 Emotional attachment with their partner or spouse
 Isolation
 Belief in the value of independence and self-reliance
 Lack of faith in ability of other people to help.
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All health professions should have the information about the child protection and to report
against the suspected child abuse and neglect. They should have important knowledge about
the relevant legislation for child protection:
 Child Protection Regulation (2011)
 Child Protection Act (1999)
It provides the framework for the children protection in Queensland territory. Its main
principle is the safety, wellbeing of child.
Domestic violence
Any kind of abusive behaviour in a domestic setting like marriage by one individual against
another is known as domestic violence. According to the data released by Australian Bureau
of Statistics in 2017, 16% of Australian women are victims of domestic violence. It is
emerging as a significant issue nationally and internationally. Nurses being a group of health
workers considers domestic violence as a major health issue and play important role to assist
the victims (woman and their children) of domestic violence in their work in community
settings and hospitals. Domestic violence can cause many problems like psychological
trauma, depression substance use, disability, migraine headaches, suicidal tendency. It is also
called as Intimate Partner Violence and is a strictly punishable act in Australia. Nurses are
only allowed to disclose any information with consent of patient or when there is legal or
ethical obligation. It is important to use professional judgement while deciding to report such
issues. Nurses should consult with their supervisors or any experienced colleagues. In
Australia every state has particular public policies to deal with domestic violence.
The law related to family or domestic violence varies from state to state in Australia.
In Western Australia, the law related to domestic and family violence is the Restraining
orders act, 1977. There is a provision of both civil and criminal law to protect the victims of
domestic and family violence.
An order given by the court to ensure the safety of the victim by planning restriction on the
person whose action or behaviour can pose a threat or risk of future harm is known as
Restraining orders act. The type of condition imposed on the respondents may vary
depending upon circumstances and need of the victim including restriction on communicating
or making contacts, lawful vacation of a place or premises, prohibition on the use of fire
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