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WHAT IS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?
Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, threats, and emotional/psychological abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence varies dramatically.
DID YOU KNOW?
• In the United States, an average of 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute. This equates to more than 10 million abuse victims annually.i • 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been physically abused by an intimate partner.ii • 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men have been severely physically abused by an intimate partner.iii • 1 in 7 women and 1 in 18 men have been stalked. Stalking causes the target to fear she/he or someone close to her/him will be harmed or killed.iv • On a typical day, domestic violence hotlines nationwide receive approximately 20,800 calls. • The presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide by 500%.v • Intimate partner violence accounts for 15% of all violent crime.vi • Intimate partner violence is most common among women between the ages of 18-24• 19% of intimate partner violence involves a weapon.
WHY IT MATTERS?
Domestic violence is prevalent in every community, and affects all people regardless of age, socio-economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. Physical violence is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior as part of a much larger, systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and even death. The devastating consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.
SEXUAL ASSAULT •
1 in 5 women and 1 in 59 men in the United States is raped during his/her lifetime. • 9.4% of women in the United States have been raped by an intimate partner.
STALKING •
19.3 million women and 5.1 million men in the United States have been stalked.xi • 66.2% of female stalking victims reported stalking by a current or former intimate partner.
HOMICIDE •
1 in 3 female murder victims and 1 in 20 male murder victims are killed by intimate partners. • A study of intimate partner homicides found 20% of victims were family members or friends of the abused partner, neighbors, persons who intervened, law enforcement responders, or bystanders. • 72% of all murder-suicides are perpetrated by intimate partners. • 94% of murder-suicide victims are female.
Domestic violence is a problem of epidemic proportions with far-reaching consequences for individual victims, their children and their communities. Domestic violence results in death, serious injury, and chronic medical and mental health issues for victims, their children, the perpetrators, and others. The lethal outcome of domestic violence is tragically evident in media reports that describe a steady stream of homicides against victims, their children, family or friends, those who are trying to protect them, innocent bystanders, and perpetrators. Discussing what is known about homicides and suicides is only one way to understand the lethal nature of domestic violence. At this time there is little research measuring the impact of assaults and abuse in terms of permanent and health-shattering injuries and illnesses. For every homicide victim of domestic violence, there are many victims struggling with major health problems who did not die when shot, stabbed, clubbed, burned, choked, beaten or thrown by their abusers. Thousands of these victims struggle with the health consequences of being trapped in abusive relationships without being identified by health care providers or provided with proper treatment (Hamberger, Saunders & Honey, 1992). Domestic violence presents unique challenges to the health care system and requires specialized responses from health care providers. Before providers are able to effectively and efficiently respond to patients experiencing domestic violence they must first understand the nature and etiology of the problem as well as its impact.
THE HEALTH IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE on victims, children, and the community as a whole. We will attempt to provide the framework for understanding and reviewing the definition and causes of domestic violence as well as specific issues related to victims, perpetrators, and children.
DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Domestic violence has many names: wife abuse, marital assault, woman battery, spouse abuse, wife beating, conjugal violence, intimate violence, battering, partner abuse, for example. Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably to refer to the problem, while at other times a particular term is used to reflect a specific meaning (e.g., “woman abuse” to highlight the fact that most victims are women). In addition to these multiple terms, there are different behavioral and legal definitions for domestic violence. With so many varying terms and definitions, there can be a lack of clarity about what is meant by domestic violence, leading to inconsistencies.