Domestic Violence

Healthcare Costs of Domestic Violence 

  

Did you know the average costs for a woman experiencing domestic violence and abuse are an average of $570.00 higher per year than for a woman who does not experience this form of violence?

Did you know that women with a history of childhood physical and sexual violence have 36% higher healthcare costs?

Did you know that women who expeirnce abuse use the healthcare system twice as often as women who do not report experiencing abuse?

Did you know there are tools available to to help you screen for domestic violence and domestic violence related homicide?

These questions have been proven to be reliable indicators of domestic violence and the potential for lethality.  Nurses do not need to ask permission to screen and document their patient's risk. 

· Has the physical violence increased in severity or frequency over the past year?

· Does he own a gun?

· Have you left him after living together during the past year?

· Is he unemployed?

· Has he ever used a weapon against you or threatened you with a lethal weapon?

· Does he threaten to kill you?

· Has he avoided being arrested for domestic violence?

· Do you have a child that is not his?

· Has he ever forced you to have sex when you did not wish to do so?

· Does he ever try to choke you?

· Does he use illegal drugs ("uppers" or amphetamines, “meth”, speed,

· angel dust, cocaine, "crack", street drugs or mixtures).

· Is he an alcoholic or problem drinker?

· Does he control most or all of your daily activities?

· Is he violently and constantly jealous of you?

· Have you ever been beaten by him while you were pregnant?

· Has he ever threatened or tried to commit suicide?

· Does he threaten to harm your children?

· Do you believe he is capable of killing you?

· Does he follow or spy on you, leave threatening notes or messages, destroy your

· property, or call you when you don’t want him to?

· Have you ever threatened or tried to commit suicide?