More
than 3 women are murdered per day and health care cost due to abuse is rising:
Domestic
abuse is a seriously under diagnosed social and psychological problem which
causes disabling illnesses as well as disabling or fatal accidents in the
United States
.
Abusive behavior cascades through
family generations, impacting the health of the abused, both children and
adults, and is a major social and health care issue. It is impacting the role
models given to the younger generation as well, as we have seen a rising wave of
violence. (2)
The facts:
On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends
in this country every day. In 2000, 1,247 women were killed by an intimate
partner. The same year, 440 men were killed by an intimate partner. Estimates
range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse,
boyfriend, or girlfriend per year to three million women who are physically
abused by their husband or boyfriend per year.
The problem of domestic abuse costs
the
U.S.
health care system $20-45 billion/year. This
represent % of total health care cost. It has been determined that only 2% of
domestic abuse injuries are diagnosed by physicians and that physicians are
still too poorly trained on this topic to recognize signs of emotional, physical
and financial domestic abuse. Despite medical school training, only 10% of
physicians report routinely screening for this problem.
Women who are disabled, 45 years and older, and are abused face unique
challenges.
Their
decreased economical potential puts them in a very unique situation. Studies
have shown that this age range has been neglected and yet is a significant
proportion of the population subject to domestic abuse or IPV.
Studies shows that 15-25% of women seen at ambulatory medical clinics and
20% of women seen in emergency room have been physically abused.(5)
These women grew up and married during a time when domestic abuse was
often ignored. Now at an older age, they have endured many years of abuse and
have problems with poor self-image and shame. Older women who have been abused
also are less likely to tell anyone about it; have health problems that keep
them dependent on their abusive partner; feel committed to caring for their
abusive aging partners; and are fearful of being alone..
This
problem could be addressed and changed significantly by increasing awareness and
educating the medical profession and the general public to recognize the signs
and symptoms
of
the impact of abusive behaviors. In
a research study sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, it was found
that education was an effective way
to increasing self-reporting by victim of abuse.(3)
For every 1% of increase in detection by physicians in the
United States
, $250-450 million/year in health care costs
would be saved. In this particular case, the end goal would help abused disabled
women regain better health, become productive members of society, and decrease
health care costs related to preventable illnesses
GetWell has chosen to disseminate and promote education on domestic abuse
in the aging disabled population (45+). Our
general goal is to increase awareness and understanding of domestic abuse in the
underprivileged 45+ disabled population through seminars and public service
announcements. Our specific goal is
to address health care costs for present and future generations.
Targeting this particular group and age range would decrease society’s
health care costs stemming from abuse. These
programs would also affect long term costs by improving role models for younger
generations.
Project Description
