HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

The vast majority of domestic violence incidents involve men being violent to women that they do not “break their silence”, as they usually do not know from whom they can ask help. Domestic violence against women has been defined as an important problem of public health with serious consequences for women, which it offends their physical and emotional integrity in short and long-term period and causes negative social impact. Studies, that have been conducted by researchers coming from different health care systems, have developed important evaluation methods, action kit and screening tools in order to support women that are victims of intimate partner violence. The potential use of these tools by health care providers could contribute in the effective confrontation of such incidents. The failure of health care providers to identify intimate partner violence incidents and offer support to its victims, constitutes an important problem for which various factors are incriminated, such as their lack of special education, their negative attitude towards the victims, and their difficulty to comprehend why women stay in violent relationships. In conclusion, it is noticed that the assistance and support of women victims of domestic violence is a moral obligation for the health care providers.

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