The preconceptions of current and future doctors related to domestic violence

Abstract

Domestic violence is one of the most widespread human rights violations in the world. Although domestic violence has been recognized as a social problem for several decades, it remains an underreported and consequently underestimated crime, and its prevalence continues to be of major relevance today. According to global statistics, domestic violence is the most common and widespread form of victimization of women, a fact explained by the persistence of stereotypes and beliefs regarding traditional patriarchal gender roles in families and society. The health sector plays a crucial role in preventing domestic violence by contributing to the early identification of abuse, providing necessary treatment, and referring victims to other support services. The paper aims to explore the perceptions in the field of domestic violence among current and future physicians from the Republic of Moldova in order to assess their educational needs. For this purpose, an observational study based on a survey of medical students, residents and doctors was carried out. The study revealed that medical professionals are affected by the same stereotypes as other members of society and need specific training in the field of domestic violence. In particular, the persistence of several myths related to domestic violence was observed, such as the belief that it is a private conflict that does not require intervention from the authorities, that victims choose to stay in abusive relationships of their own free will, or that perpetrators become violent only under the influence of alcohol. These misconceptions can negatively affect the ability of healthcare professionals to effectively manage cases of domestic abuse. The study results can be used as evidence-based proposals for enriching existing training programs or designing new ones in order to support healthcare practitioners in the correct management of domestic violence cases.