Citation

Bradbury-Jones C, Keeling J. J. Clin. Nurs. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/jocn.14985

PMID

31429497

Abstract

Global estimates suggest that 35% of women across the world have experienced some form of domestic violence, the majority of which is intimate partner violence (World Health Organization 2017). Men experience domestic violence and it occurs within same‐sex relationships but the most prevalent form as regards relationship configuration is characterised by a male perpetrator and female victim. Domestic violence is a scourge on society and there is now clear evidence of the negative and long‐term impacts of domestic violence on health for the people who experience it directly and for any children living in a home where domestic violence is a problem. In many cases, domestic violence is lethal: of the 87,000 women who were intentionally killed in 2017 globally, 58% were killed by intimate partners or family members—this equates to 137 women killed every day across the world (UN Women 2019). Such is the extent of its health impacts, that domestic violence is considered a significant public health issue, of which the human, social and economic costs outstrip those of smoking. There is no doubt then that domestic violence is an issue that commands serious attention and because of its complexity and broad manifestations, it requires joined‐up, multi‐sector responses. Herein lies the problem.

As nurse scientists with long‐standing research and practice interests in domestic violence, our focus lies mainly with women as victims of abuse, who are subjected to multiple forms of violence by virtue of being a woman. Within this feminist viewpoint, we are concerned with structural and gender inequalities that serve to disempower women. This approach however does not seek to exclude the plight of men and boys who experience abuse, nor ignore the significant discrimination and violence endured by people within the LGBTQ community. From our perspective, we choose to focus our attention on women and girls as those in society who are disproportionately affected by abuse. The emphasis ...

Language: en