This report discusses a qualitative study that aimed to determine women's perceptions of acceptability, usefulness, and harm of healthcare site-based screening of intimate partner violence (IPV). It is part of a larger study that monitors how District Health Boards are responding to Ministry of Health initiatives aimed at increasing the responsiveness of the health system to the needs of women and children at risk for family violence (see Koziol-McLain et al, 2004, for the first report). Thirty-six women, aged 20 to 72 years (average age 39), from two South Auckland health care settings (an emergency department and a primary care Maori health provider clinic), were interviewed in either a semi-structured telephone or face-to-face interview following a screening intervention. Fifteen (42%) of the women screened positive for IPV, an additional 13 (36%) experienced lifetime IPV (but screened negative), and 8 (22%) had not experienced IPV. It was found that women perceived IPV screening and intervention as non-threatening and safe. From the women's perspective, there was no risk of any greater harm because of the screening, and the intervention had a therapeutic and educational quality. This challenges the commonly held assumption among health professionals that IPV screening is offensive to women and may increase their potential for danger from their abusers. Women were appreciative of the opportunity to tell their abuse stories in a safe and supportive context. The attitude and approach of the person asking the intervention questions was considered critical when addressing the issue of IPV screening.

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