Health needs of victims of domestic violence
Domestic violence does not end when the victim is safe and out of danger. This is not again until justice is done. Even then, it has not ended. It's not over until the victim is safe, justice has been done, and is the victim.
Consider these facts:
- Substance abuse, especially abuse, repetitive leave a trace "print" the health, welfare and performance the victim after the abuse. This effect continues long after the bruises fade, MEND bones, and abuse is more.
- victims violence seek treatment more often than non-victims. The severity of victimization is a powerful predictor of health costs generated by these victims.
- Most visits to health care for victims of domestic violence are not the patients of domestic violence injuries but the medical problems that are apparently not related to current or previous injuries.
The health effects of violence can a lifetime. Studies have shown that adults who were abused in childhood compared those who had not completed:
- Infectious diseases
- mental health
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Dermatitis
- Asthma
- Allergy
- Acne
- Abnormal menstrual bleeding
- More health risk behaviors such as smoking, drinking alcohol, driving while intoxicated, avoid regular gynecological exams, not wearing seat belts, sedentary lifestyle, and high-risk sexual encounters.
Abuse suffered in a conjugal relationship should not be physical, due to ill health. Domestic violence and abuse (IPVA) can take many forms: physical abuse, violence, verbal and forced sex. When Dr. Ann Coker and colleagues examined domestic violence in a large series of patients, found that about 14% of victims victims of domestic violence have been psychologically, not physically. These victims had higher rates of many health problems than non-victims of violence do not have. Among them:
- Disability that prevents you from working
- Arthritis
- Chronic Pain
- Migraine and other frequent headaches
- Stuttering
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Stomach ulcers
- frequent indigestion, diarrhea or constipation.
These results raise an interesting question: Victims emotional abuse have fewer health problems or more victims of physical violence? Dr. Coker and his colleagues found that "psychological IPV was as strongly associated with more negative physical health IPV. "The challenge of the little old" sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never do evil " is wrong, wrong, wrong. And now we have research to support the idea that this is false. Victims of domestic violence or IPVA will tell you that life after violence is never the same. Some experience insomnia, headaches and joint pain, concentration problems, intrusive thoughts, fatigue and irritability. Any of these can interfere with the efficient operation and opened the way to despair and even depression.
Violence and all forms of abuse are complex and the effects on health are closely linked. There is no single approach to all treatments. Medical aid for victims of domestic violence and survivors, but not dispersed. Caution is often difficult to find and access, but can be done. Care providers and survivors must learn to work together to ensure the best possible health for victims of domestic violence.
Eat For Health - Joel Fuhrman, MD