Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant cause of injury to women with 1 in 3 Canadian women expected to experience it over their lifetime. Over 90% of physical episodes of IPV include hits to the head, face, and neck putting women at high risk of brain injury (BI). Despite existing research noting that up to 75% of survivors of IPV have probable BI, the intersection (IPV-BI) is widely overlooked and undersupported. Significant challenges to cognitive, mental, and physical health challenges are reported for survivors of IPV-BI, yet very little exists to address their unique service needs. Lack of awareness, gaps in BI screening, and unique challenges to healthcare access impede identification and support, leaving most survivors undiagnosed and/or unaware of their BI, and at elevated risk of repeat violence. Examination into IPV-related BI (IPV-BI) and its implications for women's wellbeing, healthcare policy, and frontline practice is vital. This project seeks to address that gap. To ensure integrated stakeholder engagement, effective deliverables, and accountability, a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (including service users and providers, employers, and researchers) will be engaged throughout the project. Together, we will implement a multi-sectoral strategy rooted in participatory and integrated knowledge translation (iKT) methods. The goals are to 1) raise IPV-BI awareness and education among service providers; 2) co-develop recommendations, protocols, and resources and equip healthcare and social support providers with them; and 3) create pathways for cross-pollination between key sectors. Equipping healthcare and social service providers with critical knowledge and resources will increase community integration, reduce unemployment and poverty, and result in improved overall health and wellbeing for survivors of IPV-BI.