Introduction
Domestic violence is an abusive behavior caused by one or more partners in an intimate relationship, for example, marriage or family. It may be physical, emotional or even be inform of economic deprivation. This paper looks critically at the article titled 1 in 4 Women deal with Domestic Violence dated October 12, 2010.
The article, authored by Lisa Simpson Strange, discusses the extent of domestic violence especially in women and the dangers it exposes the victims to, insisting that severe actions should be taken against those who commit the crime of violence.
Domestic violence is a public health issue since it affects the health of the victims in one way or the other, for example, when exercised on pregnant women it puts them under high health dangers. Emotional effects like depression and social isolation are also health issues of concern (Bacchus, Mezey, & Bewley, 2003).
Causes and Severity of Domestic Violence
One out of every four women in the United States suffers from domestic violence every day. The National Coalition against Domestic Violence indicates that 1.3 million women in the United States undergo physical assault every year caused by their spouses or love partners, those below the age of 24 are highly affected.
Pregnant women seem to suffer most especially in regard to their health and that of the unborn baby. Domestic violence poses a risk and leads to development of complications in pregnant women and it can easily lead to the death of the mother and the unborn child and depression to other women involved.
Some of the causes of domestic violence include unemployment and poverty caused by poor economy where people express their anger to those around them in a negative manner. People learn to be violent through what they have seen for example with their parents, male children who have grown seeing their fathers abuse their mothers are likely to develop this habit and harass women they come across in their life.
Apart from observation, men who indulge in domestic violence get the notion that women are inferior and should be valued as sex objects from pornographic sites or written documents. Low self esteem which makes a person feel frustrated may also lead to indulgence in domestic violence (Strange, 2010).
Violence should not be under-emphasized since it has adverse effects to the victim, for example, it may cause the victim to suffer recurrent psychological and emotional pain whenever he/she remembers incidents of violence. Other Long-term effects of domestic violence in women are; panic, depression, poor family relationships, sexual problems, anxiety or even suicide (Moser, 2007).
Ways to Curb Domestic Violence
There have been awareness programs aimed at educating the public on all aspects of domestic violence and what one should do incase such a case occur, for instance, reporting the matter or seeking for help. There is also formation of agencies for example Barren River Area Safe Space (BRASS) that helps victims of domestic violence by providing shelter and other welfare services.
Kentucky Domestic Violence Association (KDVA) is a statistical union that deals with matters associated with domestic violence. According to (KDVA), the Barren River Area Safe Space (BRASS) helped 348 victims in the year 2009. Centers have as well been established to cater for victims, for instance, shelters for battered women and rape crisis centers. The law also recognizes domestic violence as a crime as shown in The Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991.
On carrying out awareness programs concerning domestic violence, age, gender and channels of communication should be put into consideration so as to ensure that the right information reaches the right people. For example, when the adolescents are the target, the awareness lessons should be taught in class rooms while mass media would do well for the adults (Wolfe and Jaffe, 2003).
I suggest that there should be primary, secondary, and tertiary preventive measures. Prevention is mainly aimed at creating awareness. Primary prevention will help reduce occurrence of domestic violence for example by teaching the public the importance of having healthy and peaceful relationships.
Secondary prevention is usually on people who have caused or experienced domestic violence or are at risk of facing it; it aims at reducing incidences of domestic violence by touching on the risk factors associated with it. Tertiary prevention touches on perpetrators and victims of domestic violence stating the actions to be taken against the offenders and help to be offered to the victims.
The courts should also offer severe punishments on perpetrators of domestic violence so that it may serve as a lesson to those with the intention to commit the crime. The public health agencies should be effective and efficient and victims should be offered with the necessary support they need to recover from the domestic violence ordeal.
Conclusion
Domestic violence is a serious social and public health problem that has caused many people to suffer; it has grown to great heights since there are no strict legal consequences associated with it. The awareness and prevention programs can be very essential and should be carried out in a comprehensive and consistent basis so as to curb this health issue.
Reference List
Bacchus, L., Mezey, G., & Bewley, S. (2003). Domestic violence: Prevalence in Pregnant Women and Associations with Physical and Psychological Health. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 113 (2004) 6–11.
Moser, P. (2007). Effects of Domestic Violence: How Victims Respond to Abuse in the Home. Web.
Strange, L.S. (2010). 1 in 4 Women deal with Domestic Violence. Glasgow Daily Times. Web.
Wolfe A.D. & Jaffe G. P. (2003). Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Web.