Objectives

On successfully completing this topic, you will be able to:

• appreciate the incidence of domestic abuse

• understand the implications for the woman and fetus during pregnancy and in the postnatal period

• plan to identify cases and familiarise yourself with local support services.

Introduction

Domestic abuse is a major public health concern that threatens the health, emotional well-being and lives of women and their families.

Domestic abuse is defined, by the Department of Health, as, ‘Any incident of threatening behaviour or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members, regardless of gender or sexuality.’ Women are more likely to be victims in heterosexual relationships (90%). Domestic abuse affects all social classes, all ethnic groups, occurs worldwide and affects all age groups. The broader definition allows for forced marriage, honour killings and female genital mutilation to be recognised as being part of the issue.

Scale of the problem

1. • One in three women experiences domestic abuse at some point in their lives.

2. • One in ten women will have experienced domestic abuse in the past year.

3. • Over one million domestic abuse incidents are recorded by the police each year.

4. • 30% of domestic abuse starts in pregnancy.

5. • 40% of women who are murdered are killed by a current or ex-partner.

6. • Domestic abuse is more common than violence in the street or a public house.