Theories and Interventional Models of Intimate Partner Violence: Suggesting an Interventional Model Based on Primary Health Care System in Iran

Domestic violence is a common phenomenon and also a health priority in all communities. Researches have shown that multiple biological، genetic، psychological، social، cultural and spiritual factors have key roles either in development or in prevention of domestic violence. Therefore، it is better to consider an integrated health care system which covers all influencing factors for preventive interventions and continuous and effective care. In recent years، several studies have been conducted about prevalence of domestic violence in Iran and also several interventions have been proposed by educational approach. This research attempted to design and to implement an integrated community-based model for preventing domestic violence based on primary health care (PHC) system in Iran. In this article، the model resulted from this study has been presented. The model of “Intimate Partner Violence Prevention in Primary Health Care system” was designed by short-term training of the primary health care providers such as health workers، technicians، health professionals and family physicians in the level of small towns and rural societies for identifying the cases of intimate partner violence، communicating with people who are abused، recording the cases of violence and referring the victims of physical abuse. Also they can help these individuals to ameliorate their distress by counseling، supportive psychotherapy and some medications. By informing and sensitizing primary health care providers، this model could overcome all the limitations and shortcomings about unwillingness of the staff for cooperation in the program of the prevention of violence which has been reported in the study of Ramsey and colleagues، 2002. Also، it demonstrated that the medical section and primary health care system are valuable resources for assistance to perform the programs of violence prevention. However، this model has several limitations. Also some suggestions for removing the constraints in the national level and for interacting with other regional counties in terms of experiences have been provided.