Responding to intimate partner violence: what role for general practice?

[摘要] The high prevalence of violence perpetrated by men against their wives, partners and girlfriends is now recognised around the world and is rooted in gender inequality.1 In general practice based studies, physical or sexual abuse in the last 12 months ranges from 6–23% and lifetime prevalence from 21–55% of women patients.2 Although female violence against their male partners is also a reality, the severity and coercive control3 typical of male violence, dwarfs violence by women. Intimate partner violence, which may be physical, sexual or emotional, is a major public health problem because of the long-term health consequences for women who have experienced it and for their children who witness the overt violence and coercion.

[学科分类] 卫生学