Health consequences of intimate partner violence.
Intimate partner violence, which describes physical or sexual assault, or both, of a spouse or sexual intimate, is a common health-care issue. In this article, I have reviewed research on the mental and physical health sequelae of such violence. Increased health problems such as injury, chronic pain, gastrointestinal, and gynaecological signs including sexually-transmitted diseases, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder are well documented by controlled research in abused women in various settings. Intimate partner violence has been noted in 3-13% of pregnancies in many studies from around the world, and is associated with detrimental outcomes to mothers and infants. I recommend increased assessment and interventions for intimate partner violence in health-care settings.
Campbell
Jacquelyn C
JC
Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, 525 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205-2110, USA. jcambel@son.jhmi.edu
D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*