The Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence

Health Care and Domestic Violence Statistics

Pervasiveness of Domestic Violence

  • The Commonwealth fund reports that nearly two in five women (39%) reported at least one type of abuse or violence in their lifetime, including physical or sexual abuse as a child, rape or assault, or domestic violence. (Commonwealth Fund, 1998)
  • The Commonwealth Fund reports that 31% of women surveyed in this study reported having experienced domestic violence by a spouse or boyfriend. (Commonwealth Fund, 1998)
  • Approximately one in five female students in Massachusetts? public high schools reported being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner. (Silverman, J.G., Raj, A., Mucci, L.A., & Hathaway, J.E., 2001)
Impact of Domestic Violence on Women's Health
  • The US Department of Justice reported that 37% of all women who sought care in hospital emergency rooms for violence-related injuries were injured by a current of former spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend. (US Department of Justice, March 1998)
  • The Commonwealth Fund reports that 21% of women with a history of violence or abuse rated their health as fair or poor, compared with 15% of women without such a history.(Commonwealth Fund, 1998)
  • According to a 1999 study, a history of sexual assault is related to specific gynecological health problems, such as chronic pelvic pain, menstrual pain, irregular or excessive menstrual bleeding, sexually transmitted disease, multiple yeast infections, and gynecological surgery. (Golding, J.M., 1999)
  • A 1999 study found that a history of sexual assault has been reported by 39% to 45% of patients with chronic headaches. (Golding, 1999)
  • According to Housekamp and Foy, 37% of battered women have symptoms of depression. (Housekamp and Foy, 1991)
  • A study by Stark and Flitcraft reports that 29% of women in the study who attempt suicide were battered. (Stark and Flitcraft, 1995)
  • The Commonwealth Fund reports that women who had experienced any type of violence in their lifetime were twice as likely as other women to smoke (32% - 16%). (Commonwealth Fund, 1998)
  • According to the Commonwealth Fund, one of three women with a history of violence or abuse faced problems with access to health care in the past year. These problems included not getting needed medical care, not filling a prescription because of cost, or not being able to see a specialist when needed. (Commonwealth Fund, 1998)
  • A 1998 study found that there has been shown a link between a history of childhood sexual abuse and higher rates in adult life of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders and post traumatic stress disorders. (Hughes, Stephens, et al, 1998)
Screening for Domestic Violence
  • A 1999 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that an estimated 10% of primary care physicians routinely screen for intimate partner abuse during new patient visits and 9% routinely screen during check-ups. (Rodriguez, M., Bauer, H., McLoughlin, El, Grumbach, K., 1999)
  • A 1999 survey of managed care organizations found that less than one-third (29%) of health maintenance organizations in the United States have policies, protocols, guidelines, or materials on screening for domestic violence. (Family Violence Prevention Fund?s Nation Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence, 1999)
  • According to the Commonwealth Fund, among abused women who discussed their abuse with a doctor, only one of five reported that the doctor raised the subject . In addition, of the women who discussed their abuse with a doctor, less than half were referred to a support service (44%) and less than one-quarter were referred to the police (23%). (Commonwealth Fund, 1998)
  • The Commonwealth Fund reports that the health topics least often discussed by physicians with their female patients were STDs (16%) and safety and violence at home (8%). (Commonwealth Fund, 1998)
  • Recent clinical studies have proven the effectiveness of a 2-minute screening for early detection of abuse of pregnant women. (Soeken and McFarlane, 1998)
Patient Disclosure
  • According to the Commonwealth Fund, three-quarters of women exposed to domestic violence have discussed these incidents with a friend or relative, but only 29% had discussed them with a physician or health care professional. (Commonwealth Fund, 1998)
  • In 4 different studies or survivors, 70% to 81% of the patients studied reported that they would like their healthcare providers to ask them privately about intimate partner violence. (McAfee, R. 1991)
Children and Domestic Violence
  • According to one study, children who witness domestic violence are more likely to exhibit behavior and physical health problems including depression, anxiety, and violence towards peers. (Jaffe, P. & Sudermann, M., 1995)
  • According to another study, children who witness domestic violence are also more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home, engage in teenage prosecution, and commit sexual assault crimes. (Wolfe, D.A., Wekerle, C., Reitzel, D. & Gough, R., 1995)
  • According to a 1990 study, fifty percent of men who frequently assault their wives frequently assault their children. (Strauss, M., Gelles, R. & Smith, C., 1990)