Health Care

Health care providers can play a critical role in intervening in the deadly spiral of domestic violence by screening, identifying, documenting in the medical record, providing services and appropriately referring patients who are being abused by their intimate partners or family members.

Domestic violence is a health problem of enormous proportions. It is estimated that between 20 - 30% of women and 7.5% of men in the United States have been physically and/or sexually abused by an intimate partner at some point in their adult lives.

Domestic violence is associated with 8 out of 10 of the leading indicators for Healthy People 2010 (a national health promotion and disease prevention initiative) including smoking, high risk alcohol use, injuries and homicide, sexual risk taking, late entry into prenatal care, not receiving immunizations and poor nutritional behaviors. Domestic violence is the leading cause of female homicides and injury-related death during pregnancy.

The health care system is integral in identifying and preventing public health problems. Most Americans are seen at some point by a health care provider, and the health care setting offers a critical opportunity for early identification and even the primary prevention of abuse. Studies show that screening for domestic violence in medical settings has been effective in identifying women who are victims. Regular face-to-face screening of women by skilled health care providers markedly increases not only the identification of victims, but also identifies those who are at risk for verbal, physical and sexual abuse.

In a recent report released by the CDC, total health care costs (including medical and mental health services) of domestic violence were estimated at $4.1 billion each year.