Preventing men's violence against women.

The treatment and prevention of men's violence against women has increasingly been recognized as an issue not only for the criminal justice but also for the health and public health sectors. It is necessary to determine how health care can avoid accelerating women's 'entrapment' in a violent situation and to contribute to empowering them to take proactive steps.Research and experience reveal how the nature of domestic violence can lead to health care playing a preventive role. The responsible body for health care in Stockholm, the Stockholm County Council, is one of several public authorities involved in a county-wide initiative called Operation Kvinnofrid, which has focused on internal training programmes as well as public poster campaigns.Public awareness campaigns in combination with internal training programmes do have an impact, especially where political and management will is clear.Heightened awareness among the public, enhanced skills among health workers, and multiagency coordination of the response to men's violence against women are essential elements of the long-term prevention of this violence.