Domestic violence, defined as the use or threat of use of physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual abuse with the intent of instilling fear, intimidating, and controlling behavior, is a prominent public health issue in the United States. It is the most frequent cause of serious injury to women-- more than car accidents, muggings, and stranger rapes combined. Because the majority of victims never report these crimes, it is very difficult to estimate how many individuals are effected. It is estimated that only 20% of all rapes and 24% of all assaults of women in the context of an intimate relationship are reported.
In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, look to an important database of health statistics to find research, facts and figures on domestic violence nationally and locally.
Quick Health Data Online, a free database provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health, includes extensive state-by-state health information. Although comprehensive data are limited due to lack of reporting, Quick Health Data Online maintains a variety of indicators that may be useful in understanding domestic violence. The site includes information on:
- Abuse
- Sexual Violence
- Assault
- Murder
- Homicide
- Rape and Intimate Partner Violence
- Physical Abuse during Pregnancy
- Robbery
- Violent Youth Behavior
The system can generate maps as well as charts and tables to present data, such as the percentage of men and women self-reporting that they have been forced to have non-consensual sex. Additional Chart features in the system can present data in horizontal or vertical bar charts, showing trend lines, or in pie charts.
For more information, see: http://www.healthstatus2020.com/owh/
Source: Office of Women's Health
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Reviewed by athealth on February 6, 2014.