...as a Component of Family Violence

We are only just beginning to recognize the systemic and long-term effects of abuse of all kinds (physical, sexual, emotional, financial) on women's health.  The outcomes of abuse are not just broken bones, bruises, or even death, but include a growing list of physical and psychiatric disorders that are being linked to intimate partner violence.  Examples of such conditions include post-traumatic stress disorder, panic, anxiety, depression, headaches, fibromyalgia, irritable colon syndrome, etc.  Additionally, there is evidence that abuse likely interferes with preventive health and screening behaviors in women, delaying or eliminating, for example, Pap smears (to detect cervical cancer), mammograms (to detect breast cancer), etc.

Thus, family violence plays a much greater, more subtle, and even more extensive role in undermining women's health than has been realized.