Preventing abuse during pregnancy: a clinical protocol.

Routine screening for abuse with appropriate intervention during pregnancy is essential to interrupt the cycle of violence and prevent future trauma. Over a decade ago, the Surgeon General called for routine abuse assessment of pregnant women (10). If women are not assessed for abuse, violence will remain undetected and untreated, placing women at risk for escalating abuse and further trauma. Additionally, if follow-up interventions are not implemented once abuse has been confirmed, the cycle of violence will continue. Routine assessment and expanded intervention strategies that includes case management and multi-agency collaboration must become standard care for all pregnant women.