Estimates of the physical abuse of women by husbands or boyfriends in the United States range from 85 per 1000 couples to 113 per 1000 couples per year. Victims of abuse are much more likely than nonvictims to have poor health, chronic pain problems, depression, suicide attempts, addictions, and problem pregnancies. Abused women use a disproportionate amount of health care services, including emergency room visits, primary care, and community mental health center visits. Despite its high prevalence and the disproportionate use of health care services it causes, woman abuse is rarely recognized by health care providers. Even when the abuse is recognized, health care professionals often provide inappropriate or even harmful treatment. Because many abused women pass through the health care system, it is important that providers learn how to identify those who are abused, treat all the effects of the abuse, and make appropriate referrals.
PIP: This article presents a literature review on the effects of abuse on health care utilization and health status of women in the US. The abuse of women is defined as any physical abuse of a woman by an intimate male partner. Several studies have estimated that abuse of women remains prevalent in the US and often results in serious physical and mental injuries. Victims are more likely to have poor health, chronic pain problems, depression, suicide attempts, addiction, and pregnancy problems. This review indicates that abused women use a disproportionate amount of health care services including emergency rooms visits, primary care, and community mental health center visits. Despite its high prevalence and the disproportionate use of health care services it causes, woman abuse is rarely recognized by health care providers. Even when health care professionals detect woman abuse, they often provide inappropriate or harmful treatment. Thus, health providers need to educate themselves about women abuse, know community and legal sources to which to refer abused women, and develop protocols for identifying and caring for such women.