Abstract:
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has been identified as a serious problem that adversely impacts individuals physically, mentally, socially and economically. This makes IPV detection and management a fundamental aspect in addressing this issue. Currently, IPV screening is predominantly available through healthcare providers and police in case of a domestic incident making IPV screening accessibility to be incident driven. From this perspective, making IPV screening and interventions available to the public will be of great benefit. To design a web based system that facilitates public access to IPV screening and management and to proactively involve those seeking help in addressing IPV is a multidisciplinary task. The approach taken to design this web based system draws on fundamentals of Design Science, Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM) and Web Design Life Cycle (WSDLC) Design Science is about creating and evaluating information technology solutions intended to address an identified problem. Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) is the research method used to implement this DS research. Applying the stages of TTM in addressing IPV provided some insight into information seeking behaviour of the potential users and their system requirements. In determining technology that will best cater for the identified user and system requirements; the structured yet flexible approach of WDLC is ideal. In proactively involving the user, the concept of journaling or maintaining a diary will be employed to facilitate IPV documentation and monitor IPV frequency. In designing such a system, this will empower IPV help seekers by giving them a tool to proactively take control of their lives. Maintaining IPV documentation will also help them when they need to establish that they are in fact victims of IPV which often enough happens in family court. Users will have a platform to share their ideas, thoughts and experiences with others who are in a similar situation and encourage and inspire each other.
