Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue impacting millions, specifically affecting women disproportionately at the hands of male partners. The prevalence of IPV results in considerable economic costs and health issues, with a high percentage of women experiencing various forms of violence or stalking. Interventions aimed at reducing IPV have shown positive results in enhancing gender equity and improving community health, particularly when they involve both women and men.

1. Intimate Partner Violence
Women in the United States

2. Intimate Partner Violence – What is it?
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a serious, preventable public health
problem that affects millions across the world. The term “intimate
partner violence” describes physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a
current or former partner or spouse. This type of violence can occur
among heterosexual or same-sex couples and does not require sexual
intimacy (CDC, 2017)
What about Domestic Violence? – This is the original term. Primarily
associated with the standard heterosexual couple, man & woman. This
term did not sufficiently describe violence in relationships of different
compositions.
Intimate Partner Violence does not require sexual intimacy

3. Intimate Partner Violence – What is it?
Who are the Victims and Perpetrators? Primarily, women are victims of
physical forms of IPV, at the hands of men resulting in severe injury. This
does not mean men cannot be victims of IPV. Men and Women are near
equal perpetrators of IPV (physical vs. psychological).
Risk Factors
• Poverty (still prevalent among wealthy)
• Individuals of lower education
• Victims of Child Abuse
• Exposure to violence
• Unhealthy or Risky Sexual Behaviors
• Alcohol – Substance Abuse
• Anti-Social Behavior
• Attitudes or Cultures that consider Women unequal

4. Intimate Partner Violence: A Global Health Issue
Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence by Region
(WHO, 2017)
Mortality
38% of all
Murders
are
a result of
IPV
(WHO, 2017)
(CDC, 2017)

5. Women in the United States – Target Pop.
United States Census Estimates 2015
• Total Population United States: 321,418,820
• Women account for 50.8% of the population = 163,280,761
(U.S. Census Bureau, 2015)
American Women Life Expectancy = 81 years
(U.S. Census Bureau, 2015)
Women’s Health Facts
• 18 & Older in fair or poor health: 13.3%
• Alcohol Use – Reporting 4 or more drinks in 1 day: 17.4%
• 18 & Older meeting federal physical activity standards
for aerobic activity: 45.8%
• Obesity for 20 years and over: 38.5%
• Smoking 18 years and over: 13.6%
• Hypertension 20 years and over: 33.4%
• Mortality Rate: Deaths per 100,000 population: 892.9
(CDC, 2016)

6. Women in the United States – Target Pop.
Important Health Concerns
• Cancer
• Reproductive Health
• Maternal Health
• Mental Health
• Violence Against Women
• Teen Pregnancy
Top 10 Causes of Death:
1. Heart Disease (22.3%)
2. Cancer (21.6%)
3. Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases (6.0%)
4. Stroke (6.0%)
5. Alzheimer's (5.0%)
6. Unintentional Injury (3.9%)
7. Diabetes (2.7%)
8. Influenza & Pneumonia (2.2%)
9. Kidney Disease (1.8%)
10. Septicemia (1.6%)
(CDC, 2017)

7. IPV Impacts on Women in the United States
Costs of intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is an estimated $8.3
billion. $6.2 billion spent on physical violence, $461 million for stalking, $460
million for sexual abuse victims and $1.2 billion for individuals who have lost
their lives. (CDC, 2015)
IPV victims may result in Unemployment, million of days of lost productivity and
health issues may last up to 15 years
Approximately 27.3% of women experience sexual/physical violence or stalking by an
intimate partner
74% of all “murder-suicides” have involved a domestic partner, and 96% of these
cases resulted in the murder of a women at the hands of their intimate partner
(APA, 2017)

8. IPV Impacts on Women in the United States
Women exposed to IPV engage in more risky
behaviors: High risk sexual behaviors, unprotected
sex, decreased condom use, promiscuity, early
sexual initiation, involvement with unhealthy sexual
partners
More likely to smoke, drink alcohol, DUI, Illicit drug
use.
May also cause eating disorders: fasting, vomiting,
diet pill abuse, binge eating

9. IPV Impacts on Women in the United States
Joint Disease
Migraines - Headache
CNS Disorder
IBS
GI Disorders
Chronic Pain Syndrome – Fibromyalgia
Asthma
Cardiovascular Disease
Circulatory Conditions – Hypertension
Bladder & Kidney Infections
Low Self-Esteem
Suicide - Suicidal Ideation
Anxiety
Depression
PTSD - Flashbacks
Anti-Social Behavior
Intimacy Phobias
Trust Issues
Emotional Detachment
Sleep Disorders – Insomnia
Eating disorders
Sexual Dysfunction
Delayed Prenatal Care
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Unintended Pregnancy
STDs
Other Gynecologic Disorders
(CDC, 2015)

10. IPV Impacts on Women in the United States
Despite severe consequences as a result of IPV exposure, a majority of
women find it difficult to leave their violent partners
Reasons: Lacking support from family or friends, economic or financial,
fear of retaliation, or harm to children, custody,
embarrassment, stigma.
Leslie Morgan Steiner explains why she didn’t leave in a TED TALK
“I wasn’t even aware I was in an abusive relationship”.

11. Intervention Summaries
IMAGE
• Intervention for Microfinance for AIDS and Gender Equity - South Africa
• Targets women in poor, rural areas
• Financial assistance, training, life-skills
• Workshops, HIV education, incorporates men into program
• 55% reduction in IPV when women complete program, increases reported in partner
communication

12. Stepping Stones
• Implemented in 45 countries in Africa and Asia
• Focuses on HIV education and life skills training as well
• Roughly 40 hours of single-sex group sessions, followed by mixed peer/community
workshops
• Data shows decrease in IPV rates, less quarrels between partners, men more
accepting of women refusals of sex
Intervention Summaries

13. IMAGE
• Strengths
• More comprehensive, displays
tangible data
• Bigger reduction in IPV instances
• Includes financial assistance,
workshops on increasing
employment opportunities for
women
• Weaknesses
• Small population targeted (rural,
poor women)
Intervention Strengths & Weaknesses
STEPPING STONES
• Strengths
• More widely established
• Positive results
• Weaknesses
• Lacks financial/employment/community
work
• Data unclear, only shows trends

14. Community Health Implications
•Both interventions show tangible, positive results in reducing IPV while
increasing gender equity
•Women work on shaping independence, not conforming to cultural gender
norms
•Programs display that strong community work, incorporating both genders
into curriculum equals positive results

15. Questions?

16. References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Intimate partner violence: Facts & resources.
Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/topics/violence/partner.aspx
Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. (2015, March 3). Intimate partner violence:
Consequences. Retrieved from
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/consequences.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, July). Intimate Partner Violence: Data
Sources. Retrieved May 7, 2017, from
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/datasources.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, July 21). Intimate Partner Violence: Data
Sources. Retrieved May 10, 2017, from
https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/datasources.html
World Health Organization. (2012). Understanding and addressing violence against women.
Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/77432/1/WHO_RHR_12.36_eng.pdf
World Health Organization. (2013). Violence Against Women: Global Picture Health
Response. Retrieved May 8, 2017, from
http://www.who.int/reproductivehealth/publications/violence/VAW_infographic.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Leading Causes of Death in Females,
2014. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/women/lcod/2014/race-ethnicity/index.htm
United States Census Bureau. (2015). Quick Facts. Retrieved from
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045216/00