Violence Against Women
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Violence Against Women Contemporary Examination of Intimate Partner Violence STM Learning, Inc. Leading Publisher of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Educational Resources Saint Louis www.stmlearning.com Saint Louis www.stmlearning.com Violence Against Women Contemporary Examination of Intimate Partner Violence Paul Thomas Clements, PhD, RN Angelo P. Giardino, MD, PhD Associate Clinical Professor Professor and Section Chief Coordinator - Contemporary Trends in Forensic Health Academic General Pediatrics Care Certificate Online Baylor College of Medicine Drexel University Vice President/Chief Medical Officer College of Nursing and Health Professions Texas Children’s Health Plan Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Chief Quality Officer for Medicine Texas Children’s Hospital Jennifer Pierce-Weeks, RN, SANE-P, SANE-A Houston, Texas Project Director International Association of Forensic Nurses Soraya Seedat, MBChB, Elkridge, MD FC Psych (SA), MMED (Psych), PhD Forensic Nurse Examiner Executive Head of the Department of Psychiatry Emergency Department Stellenbosch University Memorial Hospital, University of Colorado Health Cape Town, South Africa Colorado Springs, Colorado Catherine M. Mortiere, PhD Karyn E. Holt, PhD, CNM Clinical Instructor Associate Clinical Professor Department of Psychiatry and Director of Online Quality New York University, College of Medicine Division of Nursing Licensed Psychologist College of Nursing and Health Professions Kirby Forensic Psychiatric Center Drexel University New York, New York Philadelphia, Pennsylvania STM Learning, Inc. Leading Publisher of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Educational Resources Saint Louis www.stmlearning.com iii Saint Louis www.stmlearning.com FOREWORD Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an entirely stoppable yet crippling epidemic in the United States and around the globe. The 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that more than 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience rape, physical violence, and/ or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Moreover, the majority of both men and women experiencing IPV do so for the first time before the age of 25.1 Many re- quire medical and other healthcare related encounters. A study by Bonomi and colleagues found significantly higher healthcare costs for physically abused women, and greater utili- zation of services in emergency, hospital outpatient, primary care, pharmacy, and specialty services departments.2 Reviewing all homicides in the US between 1980 and 2008, nearly 1 in 5 victims was killed by an intimate partner; in 2008, 45% of all female victims were killed by an intimate partner, a rate far higher than their male counterparts.3 IPV exists within small towns and big cities, wealthy communities and poor; on military installations, and on high school and college campuses across the nation. It would be difficult to find any community not impacted by IPV. Legislation related to IPV has improved drastically over the years. Every state has some form of anti-stalking law on the books, and as of 1993 all states and the military criminalize rape of a spouse. The Victims of Crimes Act (VOCA) as well as the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) have done much to assist victims of crimes in meaningful ways. Felony strangulation laws have become increasingly common—a majority of states now have them— making it easier to hold offenders accountable for a frequently used and potentially lethal form of violence. However, jurisdictions differ widely in the ways they approach the investigation and prosecution of crimes related to IPV, be it in definition, level of criminal offense, or types of available punishment upon successful prosecution. Regardless, criminal justice professionals and colleagues in allied professions, including healthcare and victim advocacy, will certainly come into contact with victims of abuse. Understanding the broad spectrum of ways in which IPV can manifest itself and the ripple effect it can have on the lives of victims and their families is critical. Violence Against Women: A Contemporary Examination of Intimate Partner Violence is a one-stop reference book. It is relevant for victim advocates, social workers, law enforcement professionals, prosecutors, judges, healthcare workers, and any other professional who desires a well-rounded understanding of the implications and impact of IPV. This book systematically examines all aspects of IPV and contains detailed and well- resourced chapters on broad issues, such as risk assessment, healthcare implications and investigation, as well as more focused examinations of IPV within specific communities. I am not aware of a more comprehensive look at IPV than Violence Against Women: A Contemporary Examination of Intimate Partner Violence. The authors, contributors, and editors are to be commended for its excellence. Sasha N. Rutizer Senior Attorney National District Attorneys Association 1. Black MC, Basile KC, Breiding MJ, et al.The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report. Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2011. 2. Bonomi AE, Anderson ML, Rivara FP, Thompson RS. Health care utilization and costs associated with physical and nonphysical-only intimate partner violence. Health Serv Res. 2009;44(3):1052-1067. 3. Cooper A, Smith EL. Homicide Trends in the United States, 1980-2008. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics; 2011. ix FOREWORD Over the last several decades we have come to realize that exposures to violence is in fact a major social determinant of health. Some great visionaries of our country ‘got’ violence way before most. One visionary was Dr. Martin Luther King, he stated: “Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it is a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win his understanding; it seeks to annihilate rather than to convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in a monologue rather than a dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.” I believe Dr. King captured the devastating effects of violence like no other before or since. Globally, Gender Based Violence (GBV) affects millions of women (and some men). Over the last 4 decades much evidence has evolved on the health consequences of GBV, and a major focus this decade is exploring interventions and health outcomes. We know that GBV is deeply rooted in socio-political factors, inequality, racism, sexism, and pov- erty. Addressing these route causes is vital and inherent to preventing and intervening in cases of GBV. Our success will best be measured by the acceptance of zero tolerance for violence across our Nation and the World. Health care professionals are in a unique and privileged position to prevent and inter- vene when caring for patients exposed to violence. A Trauma and Patient Informed theoretical framework offers the best opportunity to engage patients. This scholarly written book illuminates the impact of violence on individuals and provides informa- tion that is applicable to practice and policy. Worthy of note is the breath and depth of the authors- representing medicine, nursing, lawyers, researchers, academics, and advocates. Their unique and combined contributions are complimentary to each other and provide a wealth of information. I am confident this book will serve as a beacon for those providing services to victims of GBV. I commend each and every author as surely the parts of this book equal the whole. I also want to acknowledge the patients we serve- it is an honor and a privilege to be in a position of working with them- I know I am a better provider and person for having had this opportunity in my career. In solidarity- Annie Lewis-O’Connor Annie Lewis-O’Connor PhD, NP, MPH Nurse Scientist & Founder and Director Women’s C.A.R.E Clinic Coordinated Approach to Recovery and Empowerment Brigham and Women’s Hospital Instructor- Harvard Medical School Boston, MA xi Preface Significant advances have been made in understanding violence and developing effective prevention and treatment methods. However, addressing interpersonal violence effectively demands involvement from many players, from healthcare professionals, victims, perpetrators, families, educators, community leaders, law enforcement officials, legislators, faith-based organizations, and the media. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is manifested by four types of behaviors: physical violence, sexual violence, threats of physical or sexual violence, and emotional abuse. Oftentimes, psychological and emotional violence is the beginning of a continuum of behaviors that commence with relational tensing progressing to emotional mistreatment, escalating to battering, and further progress to violence. This book was compiled from well known worldwide experts in violence and abuse and is intended to be used as a reference and handbook for hospital providers, the law enforcement team, media, educators, and legislators. Intimate partner violence is the most common cause of nonfatal injury to women. The Center for Disease