What are some indicators that a woman is being abused?
Margarita Martinez Aguilar, the social worker at Tlacolula Hospital in Tlacolula de Matamoros, Oaxaca, prides herself on her ability to ask good questions, and says that doctors and others at the hospital send patients to her when they are trying to figure out “what’s really going on.” Margarita’s suggestions for other healthcare providers include: • Do not make assumptions about what a woman is going through. Ask questions to find out what’s going on. • Recognize that psychological and verbal abuse is common, and that violence may be present even if there is no physical sign. Ask women how they feel at home. • Ask questions about family structure, health conditions, family economics, etc. These questions can give you a sense of the family dynamic without asking directly about abuse. • When women present with physical problems, ask them what they think is causing these problems. • Don’t be afraid to delve into a difficult situation. Don’t be afraid that the abuser will retaliate agains
