Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) in Pregnancy
Discover how you can better support people experiencing domestic violence and abuse in pregnancy.
Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
3 hours
Identifying and Responding to Domestic Violence and Abuse (DVA) in Pregnancy
Explore the challenges of providing care for DVA in the context of pregnancy
Around 1 in 12 people are exposed to domestic violence and abuse (DVA) during pregnancy.
Health appointments during this time are a good opportunity for maternity staff and other health professionals to ask people about DVA and offer support. Maternity staff routinely screen for DVA, yet disclosure and referral rates remain low.
On this course, you will discover the research, guidelines and techniques for screening for DVA more effectively.
You will have the opportunity to enhance your ability to support victims and contribute to creating change in DVA rates during pregnancy.
What topics will you cover?
- Defining domestic violence and abuse
- Domestic violence and abuse in the context of pregnancy, labour and postnatal settings
- Barriers and opportunities for disclosure in the context of childbearing
- Enhanced screening practices
- Enhanced responses to disclosure in the context of childbearing
- Midwives’ personal experiences of domestic violence and abuse
- Professional wellbeing
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Identify signs and symptoms of domestic violence and abuse during pregnancy and in the postpartum period
- Assess risk and understand the impact of DVA on pregnancy, childbirth, maternal health, infant health, long-term outcomes and parenting
- Develop awareness of the research evidence underpinning interventions for DVA during pregnancy, including selective screening and healthcare responses
- Develop skills in asking about abuse, including questions to ask and how to ask them and creating the conditions to allow safe disclosure
- Reflect on and learn about supportive responses, referral options and follow-up
- Explore challenges and barriers to provision of care to pregnant people and parents experiencing DVA, as well as addressing your own experiences of abuse as a barrier to enquiry and response
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for midwives and maternity staff caring for people giving birth and their families.
It may also offer useful guidance for any professional providing care for pregnant people and in the postpartum period.
Please note that the staff referred to in the “Who will you learn with” section below may be subject to change.
Who will you learn with?
Dr Sally Pezaro is an Assistant Professor at Coventry University. She is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Midwives (FRCM) and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA)
An associate professor and health psychologist, my research focuses on mental and sexual health impacts of domestic and sexual abuse and healthcare interventions to promote healing for survivors.
Who developed the course?
Coventry University
Coventry secured 5 QS Stars for Teaching and Online Learning in the QS World University Ranking 2020 and has received No. 1 in the world for Massive Open Online Courses in MoocLab’s World University Ranking 2021.
Established
1992Location
Coventry
Learning on FutureLearn
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- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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