TOWARDS PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN: ANALYSIS OF KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES AND BARRIERS EXPERIENCED BY FAMILY PHYSICIANS

Domestic Violence (DV). is under-recognized in primary care clinics in Pakistan In 2012, the Domestic violence [Prevention and Protection] Act was passed in the Pakistani parliament making Domestic Violence (DV) punishable by time in jail. To assess knowledge about DV and barriers faced by family physicians in clinical practice in caring for DV victims. Method An analytical cross-sectional survey of family physicians practicing in hospital and community based primary care clinics of an academic centre and subsidized primary care clinics of a Welfare Organization was conducted. Results and Conclusion: Hundred family physicians, (35% male and 65% female) of which 14% had formal four year training and the highest FCPS qualification, were included. About 92.5% of them believed that domestic violence (DV) is common. Forty three percent of FCPS qualified doctors thought that economic deprivation is not included in the definition of DV. Only 21.4% of the FCPS qualified doctors knew about the WHO screening tools for DV and 80% of them were not aware of the Pakistan Domestic Violence Prevention and Protection Act 2012. Of these, 50% were not comfortable in managing DV victims. None of the FCPS qualified physicians had been trained formally to deal with DV victims and they attributed this as the main barrier (85.7%) in the care of these patients. Even the most highly qualified family physicians lack knowledge about DV and legislation regarding it in Pakistan. None of them had ever received training in DV. Training in recognizing and caring for DV victims must be included in under and postgraduate curricula.