The health impact of intimate partner violence

Research suggests that between 960,000 to 4 million individuals are victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) each year and of these about 85 percent are women. In a recent survey conducted by the Commonwealth Fund, it was estimated that approximately one-third of American women will become a victim of IPV at some point in their life. The literature reports 36 percent to 95 percent of battered women suffer injuries to the face, neck or head. Women who have been abused by a partner report significantly lower self assessments of health, increased disabilities and increased chronic health conditions than non-abused women. When direct costs to the health care system are combined with indirect costs to society, total health care costs of IPV can escalate into the billions. Intimate partner violence erodes the health of patients, consumes healthcare dollars, compromises the health and safety of children and communities, and represents a liability exposure for the healthcare clinician who turns their head. Healthcare providers, especially dental professionals, must gain experience in the diagnosis and management of IPV so that identification occurs earlier and intervention follows established protocols.