Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS)
A validated 5-question screening tool for detecting intimate partner violence in pregnant and non-pregnant women in healthcare settings.
Have you ever been emotionally or physically abused by your partner or someone important to you?
Within the last year, have you been hit, slapped, kicked, or otherwise physically hurt by someone?
Since you have been pregnant (or within the last year if not pregnant), have you been hit, slapped, kicked, or otherwise physically hurt by someone?
Tap or click body areas to mark injury locations
Within the past year, has anyone forced you to have sexual activities?
Are you afraid of your partner or anyone you listed above?
About This Tool
The Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) is a validated 5-question screening instrument developed by the Nursing Research Consortium on Violence and Abuse. It was designed specifically to detect abuse in pregnant women, but is also used in non-pregnant populations across healthcare settings.
The AAS is one of the most widely studied intimate partner violence screening tools. It addresses physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and fear of a partner. It is the only validated screen that includes a pregnancy-specific question.
A positive answer to any question warrants further assessment by a healthcare professional. This tool does not provide a diagnosis.
References
- McFarlane J, Parker B, Soeken K, Bullock L. Assessing for abuse during pregnancy: severity and frequency of injuries and associated entry into prenatal care. JAMA. 1992;267(23):3176-3178.
- Norton LB, Peipert JF, Zierler S, Lima B, Hume L. Battering in pregnancy: an assessment of two screening methods. Obstet Gynecol. 1995;85(3):321-325.
- Rabin RF, Jennings JM, Campbell JC, Bair-Merritt MH. Intimate partner violence screening tools: a systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2009;36(5):439-445.