Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is when one person in a relationship purposely hurts another person physically or emotionally. Domestic violence is also called intimate partner violence (IPV) as it is often caused by a husband, ex-husband, boyfriend or ex-boyfriend. Women can also be abusers. This chapter discusses causes and reasons of domestic violence. Domestic abuse is followed by major health and public health consequences. Although psychological abuse can be harder to define than overt physical abuse, it has been found to cause at least as much damage. Four thematic categories related to enhancing IPV services emerged: providing empathy, supporting empowerment, individualising care, and maintaining ethical boundaries. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and domestic abuse are connected in a number of ways. It is more likely for individuals living in an abusive relationship to get HIV. The chapter also lists the abuses faced by older women.