Domestic violence study

"In the first major global review of violence against women, a series of reports released Thursday found that about a third of women have been physically or sexually assaulted by a former or current partner
"The head of the World Health Organization [WHO], Dr. Margaret Chan, called it 'a global health problem of epidemic proportions,' and other experts said screening for domestic violence should be added to all levels of health care.
"Among the findings: 40 percent of women killed worldwide were slain by an intimate partner, and being assaulted by a partner was the most common kind of violence experienced by women.
"Researchers used a broad definition of domestic violence, and in cases where country data was incomplete, estimates were used to fill in the gaps.  WHO defined physical violence as being slapped, pushed, punched, choked or attacked with weapon.  Sexual violence was defined as being physically forced to have sex for fear of what the partner might do and being compelled to do something sexual that was humiliating or degrading.

"The report also examined rates of sexual violence against women by someone other than a partner and found about 7 percent of women worldwide has previously been a victim.

"In conjunction with the report, WHO issued guidelines for authorities to spot problems earlier and said all health workers should be trained to recognize when women may be at risk and how to respond appropriately.

"Globally, the WHO review found 30 percent of women are affected by domestic or sexual violence by a partner.  The report was based largely on studies from 1983 to 2010.  According to the United Nations, more than 600 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not considered a crime.

"The rate of domestic violence against women was highest in Africa, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, where 37 percent of women experience physical or sexual violence from a partner at some point in their lifetimes.  The rate was 30 percent in Latin America and 23 percent in North America and 23 percent in North America.  In Europe and Asia, it was 25 percent.

"Some experts and screening for domestic violence should be added to all levels of health care, such as obstetric clinics.  'It's unlikely that someone would walk into an ER and disclose they've been assaulted,' said Sheila Sprague of McMaster University in Canada, who has researched domestic violence in women at orthopedic clinics.  She was not connected to the WHO report." - Maria Cheng in The Associated Press

It is sad that this still goes on in this day and age.  The age where so many modern conveniences are available to all like cell phones that in relationships women are still minimized and fear is in the home with their partner/spouse.  The article doesn't even mention how the children in the home are abused and live in fear because of what they see their mothers go through.

Renee Madison, MA, LPC, CSAT is a counselor in Colorado.  She can be reached for appointments at 303-257-7623 or 970-324-6928