Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Against Women

Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Against Women

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is physical, sexual, or psychological harm inflicted by a current or

former partner (same sex or not) or a current or former spouse (Black et al., 2011). Almost one third

of American women experience being hit, slapped, or pushed by an intimate partner, and nearly a

quarter will experience serious forms of IPV during their lifetimes. Additionally, nearly one in five

women will experience a completed or attempted rape in their lifetimes. Men experience IPV and

rape as well, although at far lower rates than do women. About a quarter of men will experience

IPV (about 12% serious forms of violence) and nearly 1.5% a completed or attempted rape.

Although more than half of women reporting rape report that the assailant was an intimate partner

and 40% that the assailant was an acquaintance, men report that half of rapes were by

acquaintances and 15% by strangers; the number raped by an intimate partner was too small to

estimate.

The health effects of IPV and sexual violence are substantial and cost as much as $8.3 billion in

health care and mental health services for victims (Max et al., 2004). Violence is associated with a

wide range of health problems, including chronic pain recurring central nervous system symptoms,

vaginal and sexually transmitted infections and other gynecological symptoms, and diagnosed

gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders (Black et al., 2011). Mental health symptoms include

depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcohol and drug use (Black et al., 2011;

Campbell, 2002).

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