Effective Screening Could Stop Domestic Violence

The New York Times reports that effective screening may be key to preventing and ending cases of domestic violence against women. “Numerous studies indicate that doctors ask about domestic violence poorly, however, and don’t handle it well when they do get a yes answer,” said the Times. Establishing a good rapport with patients is essential for open communication, the article indicated.


Federal welfare-reform legislation requires that caseworkers screen for domestic violence, but a study by the University of Washington found that such screening occurred for just 9 percent of women who applied for aid. Additionally, transcripts of interviews between patients and caseworkers revealed that only about 1 percent were screened effectively.

Possible Link Between Periodontal Disease and Gestational Diabetes

A recent study at New York University has found evidence that pregnant women with periodontal disease have an increased risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus. The study at New York’s Bellevue Hospital Center followed 256 women through their first six months of pregnancy. The results showed that the 22 women who developed gestational diabetes had significantly higher levels of periodontal bacteria and inflammation than the other women in the study.