Resident Physician Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus, Ohio, United States
Background: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), defined as physical, emotional, or sexual violence occurring between two individuals in an intimate relationship (CDC 2024) is increasingly recognized as a critical issue affecting adolescent health. Digital partner violence (DPV), including the use of technology such as texting or social media to bully, harass or stalk a partner, has emerged as a form of IPV. School-based health centers (SBHCs) and mobile clinics serve as key access points for health education and screening among adolescents. Objective: To assess the prevalence of DPV among adolescents in Columbus, Ohio receiving care in SBHCs and mobile clinics. Design/Methods: A quantitative screening questionnaire was distributed to youth ages 12-18 years old presenting for well-child visits at Nationwide Children’s Hospital SBHCs and mobile clinics in Columbus, Ohio between January 2023 and April 2024. Participants self-identified their race, ethnicity, interpreter need and preferred language. For patients who required an interpreter, video or audio interpreters were used to assist in filling out the survey. Patients were screened for physical, sexual, emotional, and digital violence. Results: A total of 5,002 patients presented for their well child visit between January 2023 and April 2024. 4,379 patients completed a questionnaire assessing experiences of intimate partner violence. From the participants who completed the questionnaire, 48% were female and 52% were male. Overall, 2.9% of respondents reported receiving a hurtful message from a partner (2.6% of females, 3.1% of males) and 4.2% reported being unfriended on social media (3.2% of females and 4.9% of males).
Conclusion(s): The study findings demonstrate that digital partner violence is a prevalent form of IPV among adolescents. The team successfully implemented DPV screening among adolescents presenting to SBHCs and mobile clinics for well child care. Future studies should examine SBHCs and mobile clinics as avenues for implementation of DPV education and prevention strategies.
