At your next doctor's appointment, amid questions about alcohol, smoking and medications, don't be surprised if you're asked, "How are things at home?"
Roughly one-third of women and one-quarter of men report experiencing some form of domestic violence, also referred to as inter-partner violence, during their lifetime.
While these statistics are alarming, the numbers are almost certainly worse, due to the systematic under-reporting of abuse.
But a panel of national experts has found there is a particular time-frame in a woman's life when she is most vulnerable to abuse.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force previously found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against domestic violence screening by doctors.
But on Monday, the panel updated its guidance in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine, recommending that all women of childbearing age be screened for abuse, and women who screen positive should be provided or referred to intervention services.
The task force also issued a draft statement on primary care interventions to prevent child abuse.
First, some background
The task force, created in 1984, is comprised of experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. It makes evidence-based recommendations about clinical preventive services, such as screenings, counseling services, or preventive medications.
The USPSTF is made up of 16 volunteer members who come from the fields of preventive medicine and primary care, including internal medicine, pediatrics, behavioral health, obstetrics/gynecology, and nursing. All members volunteer their time to serve on the USPSTF, and most are practicing clinicians.