It is estimated that approximately 40% of families at risk or reported for child physical abuse have also experienced intimate partner violence (IPV).1 IPV victims are more likely to maltreat their children than non-victims.2 Frequent IPV has also been shown to limit the effectiveness of a home-visit programme that was otherwise successful in reducing the risk of child maltreatment.3 Thus there is a tremendous need to identify interventions that are effective in reducing IPV, especially within families with small children at risk for child maltreatment.

Bair-Merritt and colleagues used a randomised controlled trial design with two groups to test the effectiveness of the Hawaii Healthy Start Home Visitation Program (HSP) in reducing mothers' self-reports of past-year of IPV victimisation and …