Views of primary health care providers of the challenges to screening for intimate partner violence, Egypt

Background: Health care providers can play an important role in detection of intimate partner violence within health services but barriers exist.  Aims: This study aimed to determine the barriers that health care providers in Fayoum, Egypt, consider prevent them from screening for intimate partner violence. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study between June 2018 and January 2019. The sample was health care providers (doctors, nurses, social workers and community workers) selected from government primary care centres in all seven dis­tricts of Fayoum. A validated Arabic version of the Domestic Violence Health Care Provider Survey was used to collect data. Results: A total of 385 health care providers (92.7% women) agreed to participate (78.6% response rate). Just over half of the participants did not have access to social workers or community workers or strategies to help victims of intimate partner violence. None had received training on screening for domestic violence. More than half (59.7%) thought that investigating the cause of intimate partner violence was not part of medical practice. Sex was significantly associated with perceived self-efficacy, while age and occupation were significantly associated with referral management and health providers’ attitude. Conclusion: Primary health care providers perceived many barriers to screening for intimate partner violence. Training on screening for and managing intimate partner violence should be part of the professional development for all health care providers. An effective referral system is needed that ensures comprehensive services for victims.