Kelsey Hegarty

University of Melbourne | MSD · Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care

Intimate partner abuse (IPA) is a pervasive issue affecting one in three women globally. Although understanding of IPA has increased over time, it is still lacking, and new ways of highlighting the experiences of victims/survivors are essential. This article draws on reflexive thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews from two research projec...

•Gender-based violence includes intimate partner violence, sexual violence and other harmful acts directed at people based on their gender. It is common in Australia and causes great ill health, especially for women victims/survivors, with Indigenous women particularly affected. •Health services are an opportune place for early intervention for vic...

Background Target-D, a new person-centred e-health platform matching depression care to symptom severity prognosis (minimal/mild, moderate or severe) has demonstrated greater improvement in depressive symptoms than usual care plus attention control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Target-D compared to usual care from...

Aims To assess trajectories of women’s experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) over time, and baseline risk factors and associated four-year outcomes for different trajectories. Design A cohort study of 548 women with depressive symptoms, attending primary care appointments, were surveyed annually for four years. Secondary analysis was under...

Background Child abuse and neglect (child abuse) is a prevalent public health issue linked to survivors experiencing a higher risk of health issues such as obesity, heart disease and major depression. Given the significant impact of child abuse on health, general practitioners (GPs) and primary care nurses (nurses) are well-placed to respond to chi...

Domestic violence poses a threat to the health, safety and wellbeing of women internationally and is associated with a range of physical injuries, chronic mental and physical health issues and death. In recognition of the serious consequences and to guide the allocation of resources, multiple countries have invested in efforts to measure domestic v...

Family violence (FV) is a universal public health problem in South Asia with negative-health outcomes for South Asian women. Health care providers (HCPs) play a pivotal role in identifying and supporting women experiencing FV, but little is known about their experiences with South Asian women. A systematic review was conducted to explore and addres...

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Objectives: To describe current intimate partner violence (IPV) education delivery to Australian medical students, and the barriers influencing this delivery, including any changes in the quantity and nature of IPV education delivery since 2010. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of Australian medical schools providing primary medical degrees w...

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem with harmful consequences. In Australia, there is no national standard screening tool and screening practice is variable across states. The objectives of this study were to assess in the antenatal healthcare setting: i) the validity of a new IPV brief screening tool and ii)...

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be a common issue in primary care in the UK, but there have been no studies of all-cause PTSD in general samples of attenders in this country. The current paper thus explores the extent and distribution of probable PTSD among patients attending general practices in England. Cross-sectional survey data from a...

Background There is limited research on how knowledge translation of a domestic violence (DV) research network is shared. This lack of research is problematic because of the complexity of establishing a research network, encompassing diverse disciplines, methods, and focus of study potentially impacting how knowledge translation functions. Aims an...

Introduction: Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is prevalent, harmful and more dangerous among diaspora communities because of the difficulty accessing DVA services, language and migration issues. Consequently, migrant/refugee women are common among primary care populations, but evidence for culturally competent DVA primary care practice is neglig...

Background Increasingly, strength-based approaches to health and wellbeing interventions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are being explored. This is a welcome counter to deficit-based initiatives which can represent a non-Indigenous view of outcomes of interest. However, the evidence base is not well developed. This paper pre...

Background: Intimate partner violence is a pervasive public health and human rights problem with multidimensional effects on women’s physical, mental and reproductive well-being. The World Health Organization has recommended a first-line response to disclosures of intimate partner violence. However, a strong evidence base of which interventions wor...

Background Healthcare practitioners (HCPs) play a crucial role in recognising, responding to, and supporting female patients experiencing intimate partner abuse (IPA). However, research consistently identifies barriers they perceive prevent them from doing this work effectively. These barriers can be system-based (e.g. lack of time or training) or...

Introduction: Research networks undertake work collaboratively on complex areas of research. Few studies examine how these networks develop their knowledge translation activity. Focusing on a domestic violence research network (DVRN), the aim of this study was to answer the question: What is the shared understanding of knowledge translation and act...

Establishing rigorous translation and cross-cultural adaptation (TCCA) processes for abuse questionnaires is challenging. We propose a methodological TCCA protocol for abuse questionnaires based on our current adaptation of the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS) into Brazilian Portuguese. This 10-step protocol includes: (a) conceptual analysis; (b) double...

Research into technology-facilitated abuse in relationships (TAR) focuses predominantly on TAR prevalence and correlates. This study examines TAR impact (fear/distress), and multi-dimensional patterns of youth TAR victimisation. Using the 30-item TAR Scale (measuring the dimensions of Humiliation, Monitoring and Control, Sexual Coercion and Threats...

Technology-facilitated abuse can be a serious form of domestic violence. Little is known about the relationship between technology-facilitated abuse and other types of domestic violence, or the impact technology-facilitated abuse has on survivors. The aim of this interpretative descriptive study is to understand domestic violence specialist service...

This article explores identity as a relational phenomenon and focuses on how identity is constructed in the context of friendship. The article draws on interview data from eight young women who had experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) and examines how their friends’ responses to the IPV influenced the young women’s perceptions of themselves....

Background: Maternal health is critical to the health and well-being of children and families, but is rarely the primary focus of pregnancy and birth cohort studies. Globally, poor maternal health and the exposure of women and children to family violence contribute to the perpetuation and persistence of intergenerational health inequalities. Obje...

Background Reproductive coercion and abuse is defined as any behaviour that seeks to control a woman’s reproductive autonomy. In Australia, women often access reproductive health care through a primary care clinician, however, little is known about clinicians’ experiences responding to reproductive coercion and abuse. This study aims to address thi...

Objective Assess the mental health, physical health, cognitive and language development of 10-year old children in families where mothers have reported intimate partner violence (IPV) compared with children with no reported IPV exposure. Design Prospective pregnancy cohort. Maternal report of IPV (Composite Abuse Scale) at 1, 4 and 10 years. Mater...

Background Reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) is a hidden form of violence against women. It includes behaviours intended to control or dictate a woman’s reproductive autonomy, for the purpose of either preventing or promoting pregnancy. Main text In this commentary, we argue that there is a lack of conceptual clarity around RCA that is a barri...

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem with harmful consequences. In Australia, there is no national standard screening tool and screening practice is variable across states. The objectives of this study were to assess in the antenatal healthcare setting: i) the validity of a new IPV brief screening tool and ii...

Technology-facilitated abuse in relationships (TAR) occurs frequently in young people's dating relationships, however the development of TAR measurement is limited. Existing instruments examining youth TAR confine measurement to specific digital devices and platforms, often measure only victimisation or perpetration, or lack reliability or validity...

Despite the poor level of gender-based violence (GBV) education and training that health and social work professionals have traditionally received, there is increasing recognition about the importance of adequate and appropriate education and training on this critical public health issue. This chapter provides an overview of the historical and curr...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex and multifaceted problem gaining increasing attention within mental health research and practice. IPV explanations focus on both individual and systemic levels; however, it is increasingly acknowledged that a single level explanation may not be sufficient. The practices of clinical disciplines may, howev...

Background Intimate partner violence victims regularly seek health care and support. Health care providers need to understand the complexities of partner violence and how to safely respond to clients. Policy guiding nurse identification and responses exist, yet practices and education are lagging. Maternal and Child Health nurses are required to ad...

Background Mental health treatment rates are increasing, but the burden of disease has not reduced. Tools to support efficient resource distribution are required. Aim To investigate whether a person-centred e-health (Target-D) platform matching depression care to symptom severity prognosis can improve depressive symptoms relative to usual care. D...

Although measurement and prevalence of digital dating abuse (DDA) in young people’s relationships is of growing research interest, youth perceptions of the behaviours and the impact on victims are yet to be fully understood. This study explored thirty-eight (16–24 year old) youth’s perceptions of DDA behaviours and descriptors of the emotional impa...

Objectives This was a 2-year follow-up study of a primary care-based counselling intervention (weave) for women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). We aimed to assess whether differences in depression found at 12 months (lower depression for intervention than control participants) would be sustained at 24 months and differences in quality...

Objective To investigate mental and physical health of mothers exposed to recent and early postpartum intimate partner violence (IPV) in the 10 years after having their first child. Design Prospective pregnancy cohort study. Setting Women were recruited at six metropolitan public maternity hospitals in Melbourne, Australia and followed up at 1, 4...

Objective To identify and synthesise the experiences and expectations of women victim/survivors of intimate partner abuse (IPA) following disclosure to a healthcare provider (HCP). Methods The databases MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, SocINDEX, ASSIA and the Cochrane Library were searched in February 2020. Included studies needed to focus on w...

Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) damages health and is costly to families and society. Individuals experience different forms and combinations of IPV; better understanding of the respective health effects of these can help develop differentiated responses. This study explores the associations of different categories of IPV on women’s ment...

Young women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) are most likely to turn to their friends for help. Although friends can play a critical role in providing support, there is little research that examines friends’ experiences. In this qualitative study, we explored how friends of young women experiencing IPV perceived their role in respondi...

Children who live in households where domestic violence is occurring have been variously described in the literature over time as silent witnesses, witnesses, a cohort who is “exposed” to the violence, and more recently, as individual victim survivors and active agents in their own right, each with their own lived experience of violence. Research m...

Background: Reproductive coercion and abuse is defined as any behaviour that seeks to control a woman’s reproductive autonomy. In Australia, women often access reproductive health care through a primary care clinician, however, little is known about clinicians’ experiences responding to reproductive coercion and abuse. This study aims to address th...

Although many Indigenous peoples demonstrate resilience and strength despite the ongoing impact colonization has on their peoples, evidence suggests poor experiences and expectations of health care professionals and access to health care. Health care professionals play an essential role in responding to family violence (FV), yet there is a paucity...

Background: Reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) is a hidden form of violence against women. It includes behaviours intended to control or dictate a woman's reproductive autonomy, for the purpose of either preventing or promoting pregnancy. Main text: In this commentary, we argue that there is a lack of conceptual clarity around RCA that is a barr...

This study investigated maternal and child health (MCH) nurse family violence clinical practices, practice gaps and future family violence training needs. Descriptive analysis was conducted of routine data collected as part of a larger MCH nurse family violence training project conducted in 2018. A purposive sample of routine data (2017-18) was ana...

The aim of this qualitative study was to understand and differentiate between women’s experiences of “stealthing” (non-consensual condom removal) and reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) which is defined as any deliberate attempt to control a woman’s reproductive choices or interfere with her reproductive autonomy. These two experiences are often...

Intimate partner abuse (IPA) affects women’s health, requiring accurate questions to identify the abuse. We investigated the accuracy of three questions about fear of an intimate partner in identifying exposure to IPA. We compared the sensitivity and specificity of these questions with the Composite Abuse Scale (CAS) using secondary data analysis o...

Problem Statement: Across the globe, Indigenous populations experience higher rates of family violence than non-Indigenous populations, yet are less likely to access support. Over recent years, there has been evidence to suggest that online resources to address violence within intimate relationships can be supportive and motivational. However, unti...

There has been growing enthusiasm amongst those who undertake research with children, for the development of participatory and visual research methods. The greater availability and affordability of digital technology (such as digital cameras, tablets and smart phones) has meant that there has been greater scope for digital technology to support par...

There has been growing enthusiasm amongst those who undertake research with children, for the development of participatory and visual research methods. The greater availability and affordability of digital technology (such as digital cameras, tablets and smart phones) has meant that there has been greater scope for digital technology to support par...

There is growing recognition of the links between knowledge translation, policy and practice, particularly in the domestic violence research area. A literature review applying a systematic approach with a realist lens was the preferred methodology. The review answered the following question: What are the mechanisms of change in research networks wh...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) can comprise physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and is a widespread public health concern. Despite increasing recognition that women experience different types of IPV, the majority of research has focused on physical IPV. The present study aims to examine associations between different types of IPV (physical, emo...

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is prevalent and strongly associated with mental health problems. Women experiencing IPV attend health services frequently for mental health problems. The World Health Organization recommends that women who have experienced IPV and have a mental health diagnosis should receive evidence-base...

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is prevalent and strongly associated with mental health problems. Women experiencing IPV attend health services frequently for mental health problems. The World Health Organization recommends that women who have experienced IPV and have a mental health diagnosis should receive evidence-based...

Health practitioners play an important role in identifying and responding to domestic violence and abuse (DVA). Despite a large amount of evidence about barriers and facilitators influencing health practitioners’ care of survivors of DVA, evidence about their readiness to address DVA has not been synthesised. This article reports a meta-synthesis o...

The Family Violence Experts by Experience Framework was developed to enhance the ability of the specialist family violence sector to provide opportunities for survivor advocates to influence policy development, service planning and practice. The Framework was developed as a co-design project in partnership with survivors from the WEAVERS group.

Child maltreatment (CM) is an important public health issue linked to significant physical and mental health complications across the life span. Given the association between CM and health, general practitioners (GPs) and primary care nurses (PNs) are well-placed to identify and respond to this issue and are mandated to report suspected CM in many...

Although there is a growing body of international work on barriers to engaging fathers in child and family services, there is limited research on factors that promote father engagement. In this article, we draw on case study data from the Australian Baby Makes 3 (BM3) programme to explore factors that promote father engagement in parenting support...

We examined reporting of lifetime intimate partner violence (IPV) among 7,917 young women who completed two surveys, 12 months apart. At the first survey, 32% reported a history of IPV with a current or former partner. Of these, one third of women did not report IPV 12 months later (inconsistently reported IPV). Compared with women who consistently...

Indigenous peoples face substantial barriers when accessing support for family violence. Delivering family violence resources through technological means has the potential to address barriers, but there is insufficient evidence of their acceptability and appropriateness with Indigenous populations. We interviewed 23 Australian Indigenous people to...

Background Trauma-informed care is increasingly recognized as the ideal model of care for acute psychiatric inpatient units; however, it continues to be a challenge to implement. The aims of this review are (1) to synthesize the research exploring health professionals’ experiences of providing trauma-informed care in acute psychiatric inpatient set...

Background Disasters pose a documented risk to mental health, with a range of peri- and post-disaster factors (both pre-existing and disaster-precipitated) linked to adverse outcomes. Among these, increasing empirical attention is being paid to the relation between disasters and violence. Aims This study examined self-reported experiences of assau...

Health and social care professionals are well placed to identify and respond to those affected by gender-based violence; yet students across a range of health disciplines describe a lack of knowledge, preparation and confidence in dealing with the issue. Our study aimed to explore health and social care students’ perceptions of their own knowledge...

Health professionals play a critical role in responding to the health consequences of domestic and family violence (DFV). However, health professional women themselves experience high rates of DFV and there is scant evidence underpinning hospital workplace responses. The aim of this Australian research was to explore the views of survivor health pr...

Many women who experience intimate partner violence are left with significant and long-lasting mental health effects resulting in survivors seeking help from psychologists. However, the voices of women who have sought such help are mostly absent in research. To address this gap, we interviewed 20 women survivors of intimate partner violence about t...

Background: Sexual violence is a global public health issue. It is a form of gender-based violence commonly experienced by women accessing mental health services. The biomedical model has been the dominant model of care in acute psychiatric units, however, there has been a global movement towards more gender-sensitive and trauma-informed models. T...

Background: Survivors of sexual violence, who are predominantly women, commonly access mental health services. Psychiatric inpatient units in Australia are predominately mixed gender and may further retraumatise these women. Sexual violence is under-recognised by mental health professionals and there is a lack of adequate policy or direction for m...

Background: Previous research shows counselling delivered by trained family doctors reduces depression for women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the potential for self-efficacy, doctor support and safety enquiry to mediate these effects has not been examined. Objectives: To assess whether (i) women experiencing IPV and cou...

Background: We aimed to assess the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and maternal mental health ten years after a first birth METHODS: 1507 first-time mothers completed questionnaires at 3, 6, 12 and 18 months postpartum and 4 and ten years post the index birth. Exposure to IPV was assessed using the Composite Abuse Scale at 1,...

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess the effects of psychosocial interventions on mental health and well-being for survivors of rape and sexual assault experienced during adulthood.

Title: Exploring Indigenous perspectives on a technological intervention for family violence: addressing the barriers faced by marginalised populations. Abstract:

Background: Survivors of sexual violence, who are predominantly women, commonly access mental health services. Psychiatric inpatient units in Australia are predominately mixed gender and may further retraumatise these women. Sexual violence is under-recognised by mental health professionals and there is a lack of adequate policy or direction for me...

Abstract: Background: Domestic violence is a public health epidemic. Current paradigms in responding to men’s use of violence in intimate relationships have focused on justice responses, not early engagement and intervention. This presentation aims to present the findings of BETTER MAN pilot trial, a brief online intervention to motivate men to see...

Domestic Violence and Abuse: Role of Clinical Psychologists

Background Survivors of sexual violence commonly access mental health services. Psychiatric inpatient units in Australia are predominately mixed gender and may further retraumatise these women. Sexual violence is under-recognised by mental health professionals and there is a lack of adequate policy or direction for mental health service services. T...

Objective: Reproductive abuse is defined as a deliberate attempt to control or interfere with a woman's reproductive choices. It is associated with a range of negative health outcomes and presents a hidden challenge for health practitioners. There is a dearth of research on reproductive abuse, particularly qualitative research. This study aims to...

Objective To investigate whether domestic violence (DV) impacts on health professionals’ clinical care of DV survivor patients. Design, setting Descriptive, cross-sectional study at an Australian tertiary maternity hospital. Participants 471 participating female health professionals (45.0% response rate). Outcome measures Using logistic and line...

Background and objectives: General practitioners (GPs) are, in theory, well placed in the healthcare system to identify and respond to male patients who perpetrate intimate partner violence (IPV). Men who use violence in relationships routinely present to healthcare settings, yet there is limited evidence to guide GPs in this area of their work. T...

Background: Evidence for online interventions to help women experiencing intimate partner violence is scarce. We assessed whether an online interactive healthy relationship tool and safety decision aid (I-DECIDE) would increase women's self-efficacy and improve depressive symptoms compared with an intimate partner violence information website. Me...

Indigenous peoples are more likely than non-Indigenous peoples to experience family violence (FV), with wide-reaching impacts on individuals, families, and communities. Despite this, service providers indicate that Indigenous peoples are less likely to seek support than non-Indigenous peoples. Little is known about the reasons for this, particularl...

Reproductive abuse is a poorly understood form of violence against women. It is defined as a deliberate attempt to interfere with or control a women’s reproductive choices and is usually perpetrated by a male intimate partner. Reproductive abuse is associated with a range of poor health outcomes for women, increasing the likelihood that they will v...

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global public health issue which disproportionately affects women. Health-care providers have an important role in recognizing and addressing GBV in practice, yet research suggests that the issue remains underrecognized, with many qualified professionals reporting lack of confidence and a sense of unpreparedness. Pr...

Aims and objectives: What is this problem called domestic violence?How does it impact families? Health implications, Identification and response in health settings (General Practitioners response), Implications for clinical practice,

https://theconversation.com/au/health The Conversation Academic rigour, journalistic flair

Background: In the perinatal period, maternal mental health problems and intimate partner violence often co-occur. We aimed to examine associations between psychotropic medication use and intimate partner violence (IPV) in an Australian population-based sample. Methods: Prospective cohort study of 1507 first-time mothers recruited in early pregn...

Purpose of Review We discuss recent evidence around the identification and response to domestic and sexual violence in primary care for perpetrators and victims, in the context of feminist social media movements such as #MeToo. Recent Findings There is no recent research on identification and response to perpetrators in health settings. There is s...

Background Research supports the association between adult sexual violence (SV) and poor mental health. However, most studies focus on rape and physical sexual assault. Little is known about how more subtle forms of SV affect women’s well-being. Furthermore, evidence for the impact of the perpetrator’s identity is mixed. There is also little data f...