Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41794712›Full record

SynthesisBMC public health2026

A systematic review of qualitative studies exploring how parents affected by intimate partner violence and abuse and their children experience child welfare, health and criminal justice responses.

William McGovern, Deborah Smart, Hayley Alderson, Carrie Barron, Victoria Cooling, Hilda Frost, Eileen Kaner, Simon Hackett, Ruth McGovern

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

William McGovernSchool of Communities and Education: Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Northumbria University, Coach Lane Campus, Benton, City of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, NE7 7QA, UK. William.mcgovern@northumbria.ac.uk.
Deborah SmartPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, City of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Hayley AldersonPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, City of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Carrie BarronPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, City of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Victoria CoolingOffice for Health Improvement and Disparities, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Goldcrest Way, Newburn Riverside, City of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Hilda FrostPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, City of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Eileen KanerPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, City of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Simon HackettPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, City of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.
Ruth McGovernPopulation Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Baddiley-Clark Building, City of Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, UK.

Funding

UK Research and Innovation ES/S004424/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundParental Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse (IPVA) is a complex issue, which requires a sensitive response from a range of services. This review aimed to identify and synthesise qualitative research examining the perceptions and experiences of parents and children affected by IPVA and their interactions or engagement with various child welfare, health and legal systems and services.

methodsWe conducted a systematic review of the international literature, searching 11 electronic databases from inception to November 2023 and supplemented this with a grey literature search. Studies were included if they provided qualitative accounts from adult and/or child victims/survivors of IPVA and/or adult perpetrators reporting on experiences of child welfare, health, and/or criminal justice intervention.

resultsA thematic synthesis of 39 individual studies (38 papers and 1 book chapter) which include the perspectives of (n-825) mothers/adult females (n-107) children and (n-58) fathers was undertaken. Three overarching themes were identified: (1) the importance of supporting the family whilst safeguarding the child (2) systems failing of services to hold the perpetrator to account and (3) systems that retraumatize the Family.

conclusionsServices should provide a whole-family approach, which responds to the needs both the parent and child victim/survivor, and recognises the parental identity of the perpetrator. Interventions with adult victims/survivors should take a strengths-based approach, whilst holding the perpetrator to account. Particular care is needed when families are involved in family court to avoid re-traumatisation.

Indexed as

Child WelfareCriminal LawIntimate Partner ViolenceParentsAdultChildFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchIntimate partner violenceParentsQualitative studiesSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41794712
PMCPMC13244937

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.