Intimate Partner Violence Screening Among Migrant/Seasonal Farmworker Women and Healthcare: A Policy Brief

Migrant and seasonal farm working (MSFW) women report higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) as compared to the national average (Hazen and Soriano in Violence Against Women 13:562–582, 2007). Although prior researchers have indicated that implementing IPV screenings in healthcare settings significantly increases rates of identifying IPV (Nelson et al. in Ann Intern Med 156:1–17, 2012; Ramsay et al. in Br Med J 325:314–318, 2002); many providers opt not to screen (Jonassen and Mazor in Acad Med 78(10):S20–S23, 2003; Smith et al. in Fam Community Health 20:1–18, 1998). The purpose of this policy brief is to review previous research related to IPV among MSFW women and, based on the findings, recommend policies that may help to improve the detection, intervention, resources, and available science with respect to this underserved population.