Effects of Domestic Violence on Women's Health

domestic violence health issues

Domestic violence is when two or more individuals who live together harm each other physically, sexually, or psychologically. It refers to physical, sexual, or psychological abuse by a current or past sex partner or spouse.

The victim is almost always a woman, but it might sometimes be a man:

Physical ailments, psychological issues, social isolation, job loss, financial troubles, and even death are all possible outcomes.

Domestic violence may be suspected by doctors based on injuries, inconsistent or confusing symptoms, or the victim's and/or victim's partner's behavior.

The most critical consideration is to stay safe—for example, having a plan of escape.

Domestic violence can happen between parents and children, children and grandparents, siblings, and intimate partners, among other situations. It affects people of various ages, cultures, ethnicities, sexual orientations, occupations, income levels, educational levels, religious backgrounds, and cultural backgrounds.

Women are more likely than men to be victims of domestic abuse. Approximately 95% of those seeking medical help as a result of domestic violence are women.

Physical ailments, psychological issues, social isolation, job loss, financial troubles, and even death are all possible outcomes.

Domestic abuse was reported by the following groups in the United States at some point in their lives:

1. Heterosexual women make up about 35% of the population.
2. Nearly 44% of homosexual women are female.
3. Bisexual women make up around 61 percent of the population.
4. Heterosexual guys make up about 29% of the population.
5. Approximately 26% of homosexual men
6. Bisexual guys make up about 37% of the total population.

In the United States, more than 21% of women and nearly 15% of men have experienced serious physical abuse at the hands of an intimate partner at some point in their lives. Women are more likely than anyone else to be severely abused or killed by a male partner. Experts believe that over 2 million women in the United States are brutally beaten by their partners each year.

Physical abuse and its effects

The most visible type of domestic violence is physical assault. Hitting, slapping, kicking, punching, breaking bones, pulling hair, shoving, twisting arms, slamming against something, strangling, smothering, beating, and burning are all examples of physical violence. Food or sleep may be taken away from the sufferer. Weapons like a rifle or a knife can be used to threaten or injure someone.

Sexual assault and sexual harassment

Sexual assault is also a prevalent occurrence. Many women who have been physically attacked by their partners have also been sexually assaulted. Unwanted touching, grabbing, kissing, and rape is examples of sexual assault that entail the use of threats or force to elicit sexual contact.

Psychological abuse vs emotional abuse

Psychological abuse is highly widespread, and it frequently occurs in conjunction with physical or sexual abuse. Any nonphysical action that undermines or belittles the victim, or that allows the perpetrator to manipulate the victim, is considered psychological abuse. Abuse of the mind can take many forms.

1. Use of derogatory language
2. Isolation from others
3. Personal finance

In most cases, the perpetrator uses language in private or public to denigrate, degrade, humiliate, intimidate, or threaten the victim. The perpetrator may try to persuade the victim that her views of reality are incorrect and that she is insane (a tactic known as gaslighting), or make her feel guilty or responsible for the abusive relationship by blaming her. The victim's sexual performance, physical appearance, or both may be humiliated by the attacker.

By restricting the victim's access to friends, relatives, and other people, the perpetrator may attempt to partially or fully isolate the victim. Forbidding contact with others—directly or through writing, telephone, e-mail, texting, or social media—is one kind of control. Jealousy may be used by the culprit to explain his acts. The perpetrator may further isolate the victim by persuading her that her family and friends are unable or unable to assist her.

To keep the victim under control, the perpetrator frequently withholds money. The victim may be financially reliant on the offender (most or all). The perpetrator may maintain control by prohibiting the victim from finding work, keeping financial information private, and removing money from them.

The perpetrator could also try to keep the victim from receiving help.

Technology-assisted abuse

Perpetrators may utilize technology (such as social media) to stalk, monitor, isolate, punish, threaten, and/or humiliate the victim by posting videos, stalking, monitoring, isolating, punishing, threatening, and/or humiliating the victim. Furthermore, criminals frequently monitor the victim's electronic devices, often without the victim's knowledge.

During the behavior of the perpetrator

The perpetrator may ask forgiveness and promise to change and quit the abusive conduct after an instance of abuse. However, in most cases, the abuse continues and often worsens.

The perpetrator's violent outbursts are usually episodic and unexpected. As a result, victims may be terrified of the next outburst.

Reasons victims remain in an abusive relationship

Victims of domestic violence frequently refuse to leave their abusive partners. The following are some of the possible reasons:

1.  Being financially reliant on the offender
2. Feeling isolated and alone with no one to turn to for assistance
3. Fearing that attempting to flee or intending to flee may result in greater violent retaliation
4. Fearing the repercussions of the perpetrator's actions once they've left (for example, stalk them or hurting their children, another family member, or a pet)
5. Having faith in the abuser's ability to change (for example, because of promises to do so)
6. The abuser is still loved.

Believing that abuse is acceptable is a dangerous position to be in (for example, because of upbringing or culture)

Effects of domestic violence on women

Domestic violence victims may sustain physical injuries. Bruises, black eyes, wounds, scratches, broken bones, missing teeth, and burns are all examples of physical injuries. Injuries may prohibit sufferers from returning to work on a regular basis, resulting in employment loss. Injuries, as well as the abusive scenario, can result in embarrassment, prompting victims to withdraw from family and friends.

Victims may have symptoms that aren't related to their physical condition. Headaches, stomach or pelvic pain, and exhaustion are some of these symptoms.

 Many of the victims also get sexually transmitted illnesses and experience complications during pregnancy.

To get away from the attacker, victims may have to move frequently, which can be costly.

The perpetrator may occasionally kill the victim.

Many victims of domestic violence suffer from psychological issues as a result of their ordeal. For example, more than half of those surveyed suffer from PTSD and/or depression. Anxiety problems, eating disorders, and/or substance misuse are all possibilities. Domestic violence can exacerbate the symptoms of pre-existing mental illnesses.

Psychologic abuse typically persists even when physical abuse stops, telling victims that they can be physically attacked at any time. Psychological abuse has the potential to be more harmful than physical abuse. Depression and substance abuse are more likely to a result of psychological maltreatment.

Physician self-assessment

Domestic violence may be suspected by doctors based on injuries, inconsistent or confusing symptoms, and/or the victim's and/or partner's conduct. Another option is for a victim to report the abuse.

If doctors suspect domestic violence, they may gently inquire about the person's relationship with his or her partner. Many experts advocate that health care providers inquire about domestic violence from everyone.

Before leaving the office, doctors strive to ascertain whether the victim can safely return home if domestic abuse is suspected. In the following situations, your safety is in jeopardy:

1. The victim has expressed her desire to end the connection.
2. The level of violence has been rising.
3. Weapons are available to the spouse.
4. The victim has been threatened with death or serious injury by the spouse.

If domestic violence is proven, doctors must document the evidence of abuse, which is frequently done by photographing the injuries. This evidence can be utilized to build a case against the culprit in court.