Developing a community engaged intimate partner violence management framework for nurse specialists

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue with significant health, social, and economic consequences, particularly in South Africa. Training programs for Nurse Specialists have been found inadequate in equipping healthcare professionals with the necessary skills to manage IPV effectively. This study aimed to develop a Community-Engaged Intimate Partner Violence Management Framework (CE-IPVMF) tailored for Nurse Specialists, utilizing the Intervention Research: Design and Development (IR: D&D) model and the Intervention Mapping (IM) process. The study employed a multi-methods approach to achieve its objectives. Initially, in phase 1 a comprehensive literature review and qualitative data collection through interviews with Nurse Specialists, Higher Education Institution Nurse Specialists academics and stakeholders at the Thuthuzela Care Centre to determine the status of IPV management training in existing PGD Nurse Specialist programs was conducted. The challenges as well as the legal and ethical requirements for managing IPV was identified in the Community Health Care environment. In phase two a detailed document analysis of the SANC Forensic Nurse PGD program was also performed to map relevant IPV management elements. Interviews were conducted with Forensic Nurses and stakeholders at the Thuthuzela Care Centre where the Forensic Nurse Programme was implemented. Successful elements were identified that were translated into performance objectives that could be included in the targeted Nurse Specialists PGD programmes. In phase 3 the IR: D&D model and IM process were applied, involving stakeholder consultations and iterative feedback loops to develop the CE-IPVMF. Finally in phase 4 a preliminary prototype of the CE-IPVMF was developed. The study identified significant gaps in the existing training programs, including inadequate training on IPV management, lack of standardized screening and referral procedures, and limited practical training opportunities. The CE-IPVMF addressed these gaps by incorporating specialized training modules on IPV identification, risk assessment, safety planning, and intervention strategies.