Screen women of reproductive age for intimate partner violence, urges USPSTF

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening women of reproductive age for intimate partner violence (IPV). These findings form the basis of a final recommendation statement published online June 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Cynthia Feltner, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and colleagues reviewed the evidence on screening and interventions for IPV and caregiver abuse among adults. Data were included from 35 studies, with 18,358 participants. The researchers found that three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing IPV screening with no screening found no significant reduction in IPV or benefit for other outcomes over three to 18 months, and no harms of screening were seen in two trials.

In nine studies that assessed nine tools to detect past-year IPV exposure among women, sensitivity ranged from 26% to 87% and specificity from 80% to 97%. One RCT found a significant reduction in IPV with multiple perinatal home visits, and one found significantly fewer recurrent episodes of IPV with behavioral counseling for multiple risks. There were no studies found that examined screening or interventions for caregiver abuse among older or vulnerable adults.

Based on these findings, the USPSTF recommends that clinicians screen women of reproductive age, including those who are pregnant and postpartum, for IPV (B recommendation). For older or vulnerable adults, the current evidence is insufficient to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for caregiver abuse and neglect (I statement).

“Screening women of reproductive age is an effective way for clinicians to connect those who need it to care,” said USPSTF member David Chelmow, M.D., in a statement.

2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

USPSTF recommends screening women for partner violence