Why is IPV a public health problem?
Many victims do not report IPV to police, friends, or family.1 Victims think others will not believe them and that the police cannot help.1 • Each year, women experience about 4.8 million intimate partner related physical assaults and rapes. Men are the victims of about 2.9 million intimate partner related physical assaults.1 • IPV resulted in 1,544 deaths in 2004. Of these deaths, 25% were males and 75% were females.2 • The cost of IPV was an estimated $5.8 billion in 1995. Updated to 2003 dollars, that’s more than $8.3 billion.3,4 This cost includes medical care, mental health services, and lost productivity (e.g., time away from work). How does IPV affect health? IPV can affect health in many ways. The longer the abuse goes on, the more serious the effects on the victim. Many victims suffer physical injuries. Some are minor like cuts, scratches, bruises, and welts. Others are more serious and can cause lasting disabilities. These include broken bones, internal bleeding, and head tra
