Citation

Bohn DK, Holz KA. J. Nurse Midwifery 1996; 41(6): 442-456.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8990716

Abstract

This paper reviews and compares the health effects of three common types of abuse against women: childhood sexual abuse, domestic battering, and rape. In the US, violence against women has become a serious problem. One half to one third of all women in the country experience abuse in their lifetime that is usually inflicted by a family member, or an intimate or formerly intimate partner. One out of 12 women experienced abuse during pregnancy. Victims of violence frequently seek medical care because of the acute and chronic health problems that result from abuse. Since health care practitioners are often the first contact abuse victims have, it is essential that they learn to assess and intervene appropriately with survivors of abuse. In this discussion, the health effects of abuse were categorized as physical/medical, somatic, emotional/psychological, social/interpersonal, behavioral/sexual, and pregnancy-related. Recommendations are made concerning the routine screening of all women for past or current abuse, as well as for effective intervention strategies.

Language: en