Social workers' perspectives on barriers and facilitators in responding to intimate partner violence in primary health care in Spain

Abstract

Objective: To identify the barriers and facilitators of managing intimate partner violence (IPV) cases, from the perspective of primary health care (PHC) social workers. Method: Qualitative study through interviews with 14 social workers working in PHC centres in Spain. A thematic analysis approach was applied to identify barriers and facilitators according to the Tanahashi model. Results: The barriers identified by social workers in providing effective coverage to women suffering from IPV included insufficient practical training, a lack of knowledge from women on social workers' roles, a lack of teamwork, and excess IPV case referrals from other professionals to social workers. The identified facilitators were the existence of electronic protocols and good practices including therapeutic support groups and holistic intervention approaches. Conclusions: An excess of referrals to social workers of identified IPV cases following consultation by other members of the PHC team, alongside the lack of interdisciplinary teamwork, does not enable a comprehensive and holistic approach to this problem. Compulsory, practical, and interdisciplinary training in IPV for all PHC professionals and students must be a priority for health agencies and universities in order to facilitate a comprehensive and quality approach for all women suffering from IPV.