Intimate Partner Violence: A Major Public Health Issue

By Annie Lewis-O’Connor, PhD, MPH, NP

The deaths caused by domestic violence (also referred to as interpersonal violence or intimate partner violence) are causing much concern among area advocates and experts. This past year, many watched the news with horror as we learned that a father and husband from Winchester killed his wife, children and mother in-law. Just last month, a young woman seven months pregnant was killed by the father of her baby. He also killed his girlfriend’s sister, then himself. A 12-year-old witnessed this heinous crime. This last homicide now brings the total number of intimate partner violence deaths in Massachusetts to 41 since the first of the year. That’s almost one death per week in Massachusetts on average since Jan. 1, 2010.

The literature abounds with disturbing statistics on the incidence and prevalence of intimate partner violence. (See statistics below.)

As nurses, we are in key positions to assess for abuse, provide access to services that can facilitate a safety plan and validate that intimate partner violence is a health care concern. We must also be diligent in our efforts to identify patients who are at risk and provide interventions that may prevent such horrific tragedies. The questions below may help identify a victim of current abuse:

• In your intimate relationship, does your partner ever make you feel afraid or scared?

• Does your partner ever push, punch, choke or physically hurt you?

• Does your partner ever force you to engage in sexual acts that you do not wish to participate in?

• Do you have, or have you thought about, getting a restraining order against your partner?