EXTERNALLY FUNDED RESEARCH PROJECTS
Understanding and improving service delivery, safety and support in the Emergency Department with women who have experiences of domestic family violence (DFV)
Background
Violence against women is a significant human rights issue, as one in three women globally has experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. The Northern Territory (NT) has some of the highest rates of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) in the country, with First Nations women disproportionately affected by violence and experiencing hospitalisation rates 33 times higher than non-Indigenous women. This alarming scenario signifies a public health crisis in the NT, as intimate partner violence has been identified as the most burdensome risk factor for women aged 18-44 years. The Emergency Department (ED) often serves as the first point of contact within the health system for women experiencing DFV, necessitating healthcare staff to respond appropriately and effectively. However, systemic barriers rooted in patriarchal and colonial power structures persist and hinder access to appropriate care and safety for women with experiences of DFV. Despite existing studies on DFV-related hospital presentations in the NT, there is a notable lack of research centring on the voices of women with lived experience, particularly regarding their care in the ED context.
Aim
This research aims to address this gap by exploring how experiences of care and safety can be improved for women experiencing DFV who present to the ED. The primary aim of this research is to centre lived experience knowledge in understanding the need for enhanced care and safety for DFV-related ED presentations
Methods
Key objectives include conducting a scoping review of ED-based DFV care models, mapping service utilisation and conducting a cost analysis of DFV-related ED presentations at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional Hospitals, exploring experiences of care through qualitative analysis with women with lived experience and service providers, and facilitating sensemaking workshops with stakeholders to collaboratively analysis data and identify priority areas for improvement.