USPSTF Recommends Screening for Intimate Partner Violence – MedPage Today

USPSTF Recommendations on Screening for Intimate Partner Violence and Caregiver Abuse: A Focus on Sustainable Development Goals

Overview

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has renewed its recommendations for screening intimate partner violence (IPV) and emphasized the need for further research on screening for abuse among older or vulnerable adults. These updated guidelines align with the 2018 recommendations and highlight the importance of addressing violence and abuse as critical public health issues, directly contributing to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Key Recommendations

1. Screening for IPV is recommended for adolescents and adults who are pregnant, postpartum, and all women of reproductive age.
2. Screening for abuse of older or vulnerable adults, particularly caregiver abuse, remains an area with insufficient evidence to assess benefits and harms.
3. Caregiver abuse is defined as harm or risk of harm caused by a trusted person or caregiver, including physical, sexual, emotional, psychological abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation.

Significance to Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Early detection and intervention for IPV and elder abuse improve health outcomes and reduce harm.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality – Addressing IPV supports gender equality by protecting women and vulnerable populations from violence.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Promoting safe environments and effective screening protocols contributes to justice and protection for victims of abuse.

Evidence and Research Findings

The USPSTF reviewed 35 studies, noting the following:

• No studies evaluated screening or interventions specifically for caregiver abuse among older or vulnerable adults.
• Two studies assessed screening tool accuracy for caregiver abuse with mixed results.
• For IPV, randomized trials showed no harms from screening and some evidence of benefits from multicomponent interventions.
• Interventions such as multiple perinatal home visits and behavioral counseling demonstrated reductions in IPV episodes.

Challenges and Gaps

• Significant data gaps exist due to lack of standard definitions and measurements for IPV and elder abuse.
• Federal reductions in public health funding have limited research and program support related to IPV and elder abuse.
• Social and political factors, including restrictions on research topics and reproductive rights, hinder progress.

Clinical Practice Recommendations

Healthcare providers are encouraged to:

• Create safe environments for patients to disclose abuse.
• Conduct private consultations without caregivers or family members present.
• Ask patients about their safety and respond with empathy and support.
• Connect caregivers with resources and respite care to reduce stress.
• Implement protocols for responding to disclosures, safety planning, and follow-up care.

Conclusion

The renewed USPSTF recommendations underscore the ongoing need for improved screening and intervention strategies to address IPV and caregiver abuse among older or vulnerable adults. These efforts are essential to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals by promoting health, equality, and justice. Continued research, adequate funding, and supportive policies are critical to closing existing knowledge gaps and protecting vulnerable populations from preventable harm.

References

• Silverstein M, et al. Screening for intimate partner violence and caregiver abuse of older or vulnerable adults: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA 2025.
• Feltner C, et al. Screening for intimate partner violence and for caregiver abuse of older or vulnerable adults: An evidence report and systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA 2025.
• Simon MA. The evidence for intimate partner violence and elder abuse screening: Stagnation at a critical juncture. JAMA 2025.
• Rittenberg E, et al. Updated USPSTF guidelines on screening for intimate partner violence and caregiver abuse. JAMA Internal Medicine 2025.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article focuses on screening and interventions for intimate partner violence (IPV) and abuse of older or vulnerable adults, which directly relates to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • IPV disproportionately affects women and gender minorities, highlighting issues of gender-based violence and discrimination.
   • The article discusses reproductive age women and the impact of reproductive coercion, linking to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Addressing abuse, neglect, and violence contributes to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies and access to justice.
   • The article emphasizes the need for protocols and systems to respond to abuse disclosures, which relates to building effective institutions.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • The article notes higher IPV rates among women and gender minorities, pointing to social inequalities that need to be addressed.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: Reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Target 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education.
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including access to quality essential health-care services.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality
   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
   • Target 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)
   • Nearly half of adults report experiencing sexual or physical violence or stalking at some point, indicating an implied indicator measuring lifetime prevalence of IPV.
   • Women and gender minorities report higher levels of IPV, suggesting disaggregated data by gender identity as an indicator.
2. Prevalence of Abuse or Neglect Among Older Adults
   • One in ten adults older than 60 report abuse or neglect in the past year, indicating an indicator for recent abuse prevalence in older populations.
3. Screening and Intervention Outcomes
   • Effectiveness of screening tools for IPV and caregiver abuse, measured by sensitivity and specificity rates (e.g., sensitivity ranging from 26% to 87%, specificity 80% to 97%).
   • Reduction in IPV incidents following interventions, such as perinatal home visits and behavioral counseling, measured by standardized mean differences in IPV rates.
   • Number of healthcare systems implementing protocols for abuse disclosure and referral to resources.
4. Research and Data Availability
   • Number of studies and evidence reports on IPV and elder abuse screening and interventions, reflecting progress in knowledge and evidence base.
   • Data gaps and completeness of data collection on IPV and elder abuse, indicating progress in monitoring and evaluation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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