Intimate partner violence and physical health consequences (original) (raw)
Related papers
Experiences of Physical and Sexual Abuse and Their Implications for Current Health
Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2007
To estimate the prevalence of a history of physical and sexual abuse in adulthood among gynecological patients and the association with general and reproductive health. METHODS: A cross-sectional questionnaire study on abusive experiences of gynecologic outpatients in a tertiary hospital. The total sample size was 691. RESULTS: Of all women, 42.4% had experienced moderate or severe physical or sexual abuse as an adult. One hundred forty-seven (21.6%) women reported physical abuse, 84 (12.3%) sexual abuse, and 58 (8.5%) both. The abused and nonabused women did not differ in mean age, education, or parity. Sexually abused women and those who were both sexually and physically abused reported poor general health significantly more often (P500.؍ and P,100.؍ respectively) than the nonabused. They also rated their sex life as significantly worse than the nonabused women (P200.؍ and P,210.؍ respectively). Over half of abused women had experienced common physical complaints during the previous 12 months compared with one third of the nonabused (P<.001). Two thirds of both the abused and the nonabused women preferred that their gynecologist not ask directly about abuse. CONCLUSION: Abusive experiences were common in gynecologic outpatients. Women with abusive experiences had ill health and poor sexual life more often than the controls. In contrast to the results of previous studies, most of the women did not want to be asked about abuse by their gynecologist.
2017
Intimate partner violence is a public health problem having tremendous impact on women's health. Also, intimidate partner violence, also known as domestic violence is the primary cause of injury to women in the United States. Physical and psychiatric problems are the result of domestic violence with victims having increase use of health services compared to those not abused. Often, domestic violence is not identified in the health services organizations when victims access health care. This analytical review of the literature addressed existing research and literature on the current status of intimate partner violence. The Holistic Model Based on Adequate Screening, Assessment and Interventions for Improving the Health Outcomes in Victims of Intimate Partner Violence is a useful model for guiding health professionals in recognizing the relevant of violence when women present certain illnesses in diverse health services organizations. Strategies for improving the health outcomes for this group include: (a) adequate screening, assessment and interventions; (b) more education for health professionals on assessing victims of violence; (c) domestic violence included in the curriculum of universities and colleges for health professionals; (d) continuing education on domestic violence in the workplace; and (e) assess for signs and symptoms of domestic violence and conduct valid screening and assessment tools on patients in certain health services organizations when women access care. More policy development is needed for victims of intimate partner violence to improve health outcomes.
Family Practice, 2016
Background. Some gynaecological and pregnancy-associated conditions are more common in abused women than in non-abused women, but this has not been examined in family practice. Objective. We aimed to investigate intimate partner violence (IPV) prevalence in family practice and to investigate whether gynaecological and pregnancy-associated conditions are more common in abused women than in non-abused women. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional waiting room survey in 12 family practices in the Netherlands in 2012. Women were eligible if they were of 18 years or older. Questionnaires measured IPV and gynaecological and pregnancy-associated conditions. Chi-square tests were used to assess the differences in gynaecological and pregnancy-associated conditions between abused women and non-abused women. Results. The response rate was 86% (262 of 306 women). The past-year prevalence of IPV in women who had had an intimate relationship in the past year and were not accompanied by their partner was 8.7% (n = 195). Lifetime prevalence of women who had ever had an intimate relationship, but not in the past year, was 17.6% (n = 51). Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [odds ratio (OR) = 4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7-12.5, n = 240], menstrual disorders (OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.2-11.2, n = 143), sexual problems (OR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.2-9.3, n = 229), miscarriages (OR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.062-5.8, n = 202) and induced abortions (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.028-7.3, n = 202) were significantly more common in abused women than in non-abused women. Conclusion. Family physicians should ask about IPV when women present with STIs, menstrual disorders, sexual problems, miscarriages or induced abortions. To improve the recognition of IPV, future research needs to investigate whether a combination of symptoms offers improved prediction of IPV.
Intimate Partner Violence. Prevalence, Types, and Chronicity in Adult Women
2006
Intimate partner violence is a common source of physical, psychological, and emotional morbidity. In the United States, approximately 1.5 million women and 834,700 men annually are raped and/or physically assaulted by an intimate partner. Women are more likely than men to be injured, sexually assaulted, or murdered by an intimate partner. Studies suggest that one in four women is at lifetime risk. Physicians can use therapeutic relationships with patients to identify intimate partner violence, make brief office interventions, offer continuity of care, and refer them for subspecialty and community-based evaluation, treatment, and advocacy. Primary care physicians are ideally positioned to work from a preventive framework and address at-risk behaviors. Strategies for identifying intimate partner violence include asking relevant questions in patient histories, screening during periodic health examinations, and case finding in patients with suggestive signs or symptoms. Discussion needs to occur confidentially. Physicians should be aware of increased child abuse risk and negative effects on children's health observed in families with intimate partner violence. Physicians also should be familiar with local and national resources available to these patients.
The Prevalence Rates of Domestic Abuse In Women Attending a Family Planning Clinic
Journal of Family Planning and …, 2004
Context: Domestic abuse has a detrimental impact on the mental and physical health of a woman. The abusive partner may use physical and sexual violence and 'control' the choice of contraception. Objective: To examine the prevalence rates of domestic abuse. Design: Data collection using anonymous questionnaire. Setting: A family planning clinic. Participants: Two hundred and ninety-two women. Main outcome measures: The prevalence rate of past and present history of domestic abuse and the nature of the abuse. Results: One in three women experienced domestic abuse at some time in their life. A significant relationship existed between the age of the woman and experiencing abuse within the last year. Women in full-time employment experienced the highest rates of abuse. Discussion: The anonymity of the research and the method of implementation encouraged an excellent response rate. Conclusion: During a woman's childbearing years, one-third of women may experience domestic abuse from their partner.
Nonbattering presentations to the ED of women in physically abusive relationships
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 1998
To determine which diagnoses in the emergency department (ED), apart from battering injuries, were more common among women who were living in physically abusive relationships than among women who were not, a study was conducted in 10 hospital-based EDs in two cities serving inner city, urban, and suburban populations. A total of 9,057 women between the ages of 19 and 65 years presenting to the EDs were eligible for the study. Medical records were reviewed, and a written questionnaire was used. The questionnaire was completed by 4,501 (73% of those asked, 59% of those eligible, and 50% of those presenting). Two hundred sixty-six (5.9%) were currently in a physically abusive relationship but not in the ED for battering injuries, and 3,969 (88.2%) were not currently in a physically abusive relationship. An additional 266 (5.9*/0) were positive, probable, or suggestive for battering injuries and excluded from diagnosis comparisons. Women in physically abusive relationships were more likely to be diagnosed with urinary tract infections, neck pain, vaginitis, foot wound, suicide attempt, and finger fracture. However, these represented only 19.8% of diagnoses in this group. The use of this knowledge alone to predict the presence of intimate violence in individual patients in the ED will not identify the majority of women at risk. These results suggest the use of routine inquiry for abuse in all women. (Am J Emerg Med 1998;16:128-131. Copyright o 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company)