Breaking the Cycle of Violence : The Role of the Family Practitioner

Abstract

Domestic violence has only been recognised as a medical problem sine 1985 in the USA, but surveys, as well its a perusal of articles in medical journals in South Africa reveal a total lack of medical concern: woman battering is not yet recognised as a medical issue in our country! If GPs only treat the physical injuries, it enables the victim to go back to the destructive environment thus reinforcing the cycle of violence. The GP is ideally situated to notice the first signs of domestic violence and needs to get involved - or to refer to another member of the health team. Referring to a survey where 66 women were positively identified as being battered by their male partners, the GPs never mentioned the cause of the injuries. This article illustrates that domestic violence cuts across all racial, colour and religious barriers and emphasizes that the incidence in 115,4 rs so alarmingly high, that all GPs should get involved; they should be trained at undergraduate level to handle interpersonal violence - it should be incorporated into the core curriculum the undergraduate professionals. The role of the GP could either reinforce the cycle of violence, or help to break it.