Episode 34: Assessment of Interpersonal Violence (IPV) and Pregnancy-Related Homicide Risk

In this podcast, Drs. Holt and Clements examine the related factors toward this increase risk for IPV occur during pregnancy, including the increased stress and potential for loss of control after the birth. Additionally, they explore what can we do as nurses and other direct providers to enhance assessment and promote safety. Ultimately, the most critically important first step is to screen for violence during interface with any pregnant person. 44% of all women in the United States report experiencing unwanted sexual contact. However, in spite of this significantly high rate, currently, only 16% of nurses report regularly screening for violence. The CDC’s national and annual examinations of pregnancy and homicide have been lauded by public health experts for recognizing this pervasively overlooked phenomenon. Dovetailing with the Healthy People 2030 objective/target regarding the reduction of physical abuse of assaults by a current or former intimate partner for people aged 12 years or older (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 2020, it is imperative for nurses and other care providers to expand their awareness of this often overlooked group in significant need for targeted and consistent assessment and referral. Dr. Karyn Holt is a Professor in Residence at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the School of Nursing. She is an Advanced Practice Nurse in the field of nurse midwifery (CNM) earning her Masters in Nursing with a specialization in Nurse Midwifery at Georgetown University and her Doctor of Philosophy degree from Touro University, New York. Holt spent the first part of her nurse midwifery career delivering over 1000 newborns while in the Air Force. While serving in the Air Force, she began teaching in the maternal child arena within higher education and developed a passion for playing a part in assisting in students’ educational endeavors as well as her obstetric midwifery practice. She shares many stories about these times. Dr. Paul Thomas Clements is a forensic psychiat