Domestic Abuse Flashcards
What is the definition of domestic abuse?
Any form of physical, verbal, sexual, psychological or financial abuse which might amount to criminal conduct and which takes place within the context of a relationship
What are the types of domestic abuse?
- situational couple violence-fighting or verbal aggression not involving control
- coercive and controlling behaviour-violence may also be a feature
Give examples of places that domestic abuse can occur:
- victims home
- other house
- joint home
- licensed premises
- street
What days of the week is domestic abuse more prevalent?
saturdays & sundays
What is gender-based violence?
Violence directed against a person on the basis of their gender
What are examples of gender-based violence acts?
- rape & sexual assault
- domestic abuse
- childhood sexual abuse
- sexual exploitation & trafficking
- sexual harassment & stalking
What are the different types of abuse?
- verbal
- emotional
- physical
- sexual
- financial
What is coercive control?
A pattern of behaviour that the abuser holds over the victim
- isolation
- degradation
- microregulation of all aspects of life
- abusers often very charming to others
What % of abuse victims are women ?
82%
What % of abuse victims are men?
16%
Who is most at risk of domestic abuse?
- women
- aged 16-24 (women) or 16-19 (men)
- long term disability or illness
- mental health issues
- pregnancy
What are examples of non-fatal outcomes of domestic/sexual/child abuse?
- physical issues
- chronic conditions
- reproductive health
- mental health
- health harming behaviour
What does ACE stand for?
adverse childhood experience
How does ACE influence future poor standard of living?
They make you more likely to get involved in health harming behaviours (smoking, alcohol & drug misuse)
Influence education, employment and income
What are people with 4 or more ACEs likely to have?
- medical problems
- 2x more likely to binge drink
- 7x more likely to have been involved in violence in past year
What behavioural presentations may suggest a patient is experiencing abuse?
- low self esteem
- victims may appear fearful, anxious or sad
- constant phoning or texting by a partner while they are with you
- alcohol
- partner may do all the talking for the patient
- partner may insist on female clinician
- missed or frequent appointments
How can healthcare professionals recognise victims of domestic abuse? *clinical signs
- repeated injuries
- bruises at different stages of healing
- dental/maxillofacial issues
- unlikely explanation for injury
- facial bruising/strangle marks around neck
- delay in seeking help for injury
- TMJ problems
- orofacial pain
What is our role as clinicians in domestic abuse cases?
- we see victims at a different time from the police
- we have a different window of opportunity
- we can provide a lifeline
What are some barriers to screening of domestic abuse?
- patient accompanied
- lack of training
- patients cultural norms
- embarrassment
- lack of knowledge about where to refer
- lack of time
What is AVDR?
- ask
- validate
- document
- refer
What system can be used to screen a patient for domestic abuse?
AVDR
In reference to AVDR, what does A stand for?
ASK
- ask about abuse
- try and ask in private
- don’t ask in front of other family members
- use non judgemental language
Give examples of how we can ask patients about potential abuse?
- is everything okay?
- I’ve noticed you have some bruises on your neck, is everything okay? has someone hurt you?
- I’m worried that you don’t seem your normal safe, is everything OK?
In reference to AVDR, what does V stand for?
VALIDATE
- a way of showing someone that you are concerned about them
- removes blame
- shows that you believe them
