Health Sciences Orientation | Domestic Violence

Women who have experienced domestic violence are 80 percent more likely to have a stroke, 70 percent more likely to have heart disease, 60 percent more likely to have asthma and 70 percent more likely to drink heavily than women who have not experienced intimate partner violence.²⁰

In the United States in 1995, the cost of intimate partner rape, physical assault and stalking totaled $5.8 billion each year for direct medical and mental health care services and lost productivity from paid work and household chores.²¹ When compared to 2003 dollars, the cost is more than $8.3 billion.²²

Sexual and domestic violence are linked to a wide range of reproductive health issues including sexually transmitted disease and HIV transmission, miscarriages, risky sexual health behaviour and more.²³

In 2005, 329 males and 1181 females were murdered by an intimate partner. As many as 42% of women and 20% of men who were physically assaulted since age 18 sustained injuries during their most recent victimization.

Most injuries, such as scratches, bruises, and welts, were minor. More severe physical consequences may occur depending on severity and frequency of abuse including:

• Bruises, Knife wounds & Broken bones
• Headaches, Back pain & Pelvic pain
• Gynecological disorders & Pregnancy difficulties
• Sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS
• Central nervous system disorders & Heart or circulatory conditions

Physical violence is typically accompanied by emotional or psychological abuse. Intimate Partner Violence whether sexual, physical, or psychological can lead to various psychological consequences for victims including:

• Depression & antisocial behavior
• Suicidal behavior in females
• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Inability to trust men & fear of intimacy
• Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
• Emotional detachment
• Sleep disturbances
• Flashbacks or replaying assault in mind

Women with a history of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) are more likely to display behaviors that present further health risks (e.g., substance abuse, alcoholism, suicide attempts) than women without a history of IPV.

IPV is associated with a variety of negative health behaviors. Studies show that the more severe the violence, the stronger its relationship to negative health behaviors by victims.

• Engaging in high-risk sexual behavior
• Fasting
• Vomiting
• Abusing diet pills
• Overeating
• Overuse of health services

Costs of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) against women in 1995 exceeded an estimated $5.8 billion. These costs included nearly $4.1 billion in the direct costs of medical and mental health care and nearly $1.8 billion in the indirect costs of lost productivity . This is generally considered an underestimate because the costs associated with the criminal justice system were not included. When updated to 2003 dollars, IPV costs exceeded $8.3 billion, which included $460 million for rape, $6.2 billion for physical assault, $461 million for stalking, and $1.2 billion in the value of lost lives.

Victims of severe IPV lose nearly 8 million days of paid work-the equivalent of more than 32,000 full-time jobs-and almost 5.6 million days of household productivity each year. Women who experience severe aggression by men (e.g., not being allowed to go to work or school, or having their lives or their children's lives threatened) are more likely to have been unemployed in the past, have health problems, and be receiving public assistance.