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Abstract
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Study objectives: Domestic violence is a significant pathology. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the annual cost of domestic violence above $5.8 billion. Studies correlate exposure to domestic violence in youth as a factor in adult domestic violence. The rate in the general populations of exposure to domestic violence as a child witness is between 7% and 13%, and child abuse is 12.3 per 1,000 children (US Health and Human Services 2001). We examine the economic impact of leaving the abusive environment on household income and measure the rate of exposure to domestic violence in childhood in those in a domestic violence program.
Methods: This was an observational study conducted though the 19 domestic violence agencies that provide transitional housing services in Pennsylvania. The study population was individuals successfully leaving the abusive environment, as evidenced by completing a shelter stay and subsequent participation in transitional housing as arranged by the domestic violence agency.
Results: One hundred forty-one surveys were returned; 60 participants completed income data. An average annual reduction of household income from $21,431.72 to $11,787.25 was seen (Table). Of individuals in domestic violence transitional housing, 64.5% (n=89) witnessed domestic violence as children (odds ratio 4.96). Of 66 respondents specifying the types of abuse, 73% (n=48) witnessed more than 1 kind of abuse. Furthermore, 47% (n=65) indicated that they were victims of abuse. Of those specifying type of abuse (n=50), 62% (n=31) experienced more than 1 kind of abuse.
Conclusion: Escaping the domestic violence environment may contribute to these families slipping below the poverty level. When compared with epidemiologic data on childhood abuse, a higher-than-expected rate of childhood exposure to domestic violence is found in populations experiencing domestic violence.Table, abstract 307.
HHS 2003, US Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines 2003.
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