Domestic Violence

Front 1

prevalence

Back 1

-1 out of 2 homes has some form of domestic violence
-25-33% of women in the ER are there for domestic violence
-1/4 women
-boys who witness are twice as likely to abuse their partners (can be unlearned)
-73% female

Front 2

battery is...

Back 2

the greatest cause of injury to women in the US

Front 3

domestic violence

Back 3

-pattern of abusive behavior existing within a home
-At the core of all abusive relationships, is the power and control that the abuser seeks to achieve and maintain

Front 4

overview of domestic violence

Back 4

-isolation
1. imtimidation
2. verbal abuse
3. emotional abuse
4. physical abuse
5. financial abuse
6. sexual abuse

Front 5

why do women feel trapped

Back 5

1. love
2. finances
3. fear
4. hope
5. self-esteem
6. awareness
7. shame
8.childhood
-each woman has her own reasons for staying, only they know when it is the SAFEST time to leave (sometimes more safe to stay until an escape is possible)

Front 6

when taking a pt history

Back 6

1. look for somatic signs
2. ask specific questions- "are you afraid? are you safe? in the past year has your souse tried to hurt you?"
3. dont collude with the abuser
4. always question the pt alone (if sig other is very adamant about coming in the room that is a sign!)

Front 7

profile of a victim

Back 7

1. blame themselves
2. feelings of social isolation, guilt
3. embarassed, depressed, fearful
4. psycho-physiological complications: fatigue, backaches, headaches, inability to sleep

Front 8

indications of present abuse

Back 8

1. frequent drs visits
2. multiple sites of injury
3. GI problems
4. eating disoders
5. psyc distress
6. injury to breast or ab area of preg female

Front 9

profile of the batterer

Back 9

-all diff backgrounds, professions, peronalities
1. deny or minimize seriousness
2. extreme jealousy and possessiveness; disguised as love--> leads to isolation of victim!!
3. refuse to take responsibility, blame it in drugs, alcohol, stres
4. rigid views regarding sex and parenting

Front 10

types of batterers

Back 10

1. "typical" -seems great, behind closed doors is abusive- no criminal record, can control it
2. sociopathic: vies violence as acceptable, might have a personality disorder, more severe, use weapons, prob no criminal record; will demand sex after incident
3. anti-social: diagnosable mental illness, substance abuse issues and criminal records; sever and more frequent violence NOT HIDING IT AT ALL

Front 11

women abused every...

Back 11

15 sec

-more likely to suffer miscarriages and give bith to babies with low birth weights
- 1/4 preg women have a hx of partner violence

Front 12

helping a victim of domestic violence

Back 12

1. listen to her story, validate her feelings
2. impt to introduce the idea of abuse and name the specific behavior that you can identify; do not attack her partner
3. acknowledge her bravery
4. assess her level of safety-ask ?s about what is going on now and in the past
5. be supportive but do not tell her what to do
6. refer the vicitms

Front 13

high risk factors-ask these questions

Back 13

1. abuser has threatened the victims life in the past
2. are there weapons in the house?
3. has the abuser locked the victim in the house?
4. have you sustained multiple injuries each time they were abused?
5. does the abuser talk about dreams involving murder?

Front 14

things to say to a battered woman

Back 14

1. im afraid for your safety
2. the abuse often gets worse
3. you do not deserve to be abused
4. you have the right to be in a non-violent home
5. you are not responsible for the abusers bahvior

Front 15

RADAR

Back 15

1. routinely screen female pts
2. ask direct questions
3. document your findings
4. asses pt safety
5. review options and referrals

Front 16

remember...

Back 16

health professionals serve as a bridge to services in the community, it is impt to understand domestic violence can manifest as both mental and physical abuse, we have to accept that there is no immediate solution to the problem

Front 17

referrals

Back 17

1. CPS and APS (adult protective services)- helpful interventions that demand change
2. shelters: brighter tomorrow, the retreat, suffolk coalition, VIBS

Front 18

screening for domestic violence

Back 18

-screen all pts for IPV (intimate partner violence):
1. non pregnant: routine OB-GYN visits, family planning visits, pre-conception visits
2. pregnant women: at the first prenatal visit, at least one per trimester, at the pospartum checkup