Pregnancy as a Situation of Vulnerability to Gender-Based Violence: The Perspective of Primary Care Midwives on Their Training in Detection and Response to IPV

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Midwives are in a privileged position to identify and help women who suffer from gender violence. However, suitable training is required. AIM. The aim of this article is to identify the training they have received on IPV, how they perceive their skills for detecting and addressing IPV, and to determine their training needs regarding IPV. METHOD. Qualitative methodology with an interpretative phenomenological approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with twelve primary care midwives. RESULTS. The midwives have IPV training and knowledge obtained in most cases through continuous learning and through years of clinical experience. However, it has not been enough for these midwives to feel equipped to adequately detect and address IPV. CONCLUSIONS. The midwives would like to improve their training and skills to better detect and address IPV. It would be ideal to have a continuous training program on IPV for midwives that is flexible and varied enough to fit their training interests.