What is Intimate Partner Violence?

It occurs within a relationship as a way to control another person and may include any or all of the following:

Physical violence is the intentional use of physical force with the potential for causing death, disability, injury, or harm. Physical violence includes, but is not limited to, scratching; pushing; shoving; throwing; grabbing; biting; choking; shaking; slapping; punching; burning; use of a weapon; and use of restraints or one’s body, size, or strength against another person.

Sexual violence is use of physical force or coercion to compel a person to engage in a sexual act against his or her will. It can include rape, unwanted touching, refusing to practice safe sex.

Psychological/emotional abuse can include, but is not limited to, humiliating the victim, controlling what the victim can and cannot do, withholding information from the victim, deliberately doing something to make the victim feel diminished or embarrassed, isolating the victim from friends and family, and stalking.

Economic Abuse can include stealing or destroying personal belongings, taking complete control of finances, withholding basic needs such as food and clothing, not allowing a person to work or causing job loss.

Does it happen a lot? What are some of the consequences?

• 1 in three women in the US will be affected by intimate partner violence during her lifetime
• 5.3 million victimizations occur each year in the U.S.
• Victims can be found in all age, racial, religious, socioeconomic, educational and occupational groups
• Intimate partner violence is the leading cause of death for pregnant women, and in the year following giving birth.
• Battering often begins during pregnancy.
• Women ages 16-24 have the highest rates of overall victimization
• In 2004, 151 people in PA lost their lives due to domestic violence. In 2005, domestic violence incidents results in 180 deaths.
• Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster provide services for over 2,000 victims annually.
• Battered women account for 22% - 35% of women seen in emergency departments.
• 44% of women murdered by a partner visited an ED within two years of the homicide – 93% of whom had at least one injury visit.
• Nationally, the costs of intimate partner violence against women exceed an estimated $5.8 billion. The largest component of IPV costs is health care, accounting for nearly $4.1 billion—more than two-thirds of the total costs