Exploring sustainable primary care responses to intimate partner violence in New Zealand: Qualitative use of complexity theory.

objectiveTo explore what affects sustainable responses to intimate partner violence within New Zealand primary care settings using complexity theory.

designPrimary care professional interviews on intimate partner violence as a health issue are analysed using a complexity theory-led qualitative research methodology grounded in poststructuralism.

settingFour general practices in one region of the North Island of New Zealand, two serving a general patient population and two adopting an indigenous approach.

participantsSeventeen primary care professionals and management from the four recruited general practices.

resultsThe complex adaptive system approach the 'Triple R Pathway', calls attention to system interactions influencing intimate partner violence responsiveness across health system levels. Four exemplars demonstrate the use of the Triple R Pathway. Two key system areas challenge the emergence of primary care responsiveness: (1) Non-recognition of intimate partner violence as a key determinant of ill-health. (2) Uncertainty and doubt.

conclusionsThe relationship between intimate partner violence and ill-health is not well recognised, or understood in New Zealand, at both policy and practice levels. Inadequate recognition of socioecological determinants of intimate partner violence leads to a simple health system response which constrains primary care professional responsiveness. Constant intervention in system interactions is needed to promote the emergence of sustainable responses to intimate partner violence.