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Physical health

The effects of domestic violence have a considerable impact on the physical and mental health of a survivor and her children. The direct and immediate physical effects of domestic violence include injuries such as bruises, cuts, broken bones, lost teeth and hair, miscarriage, stillbirth and other complications of pregnancy. Long-term effects can include chronic health problems such as asthma, epilepsy, digestive problems, and migraine, hypertension and skin disorders.

Domestic violence can also have a huge impact on a woman’s mental health and may lead to increased use of alcohol, drugs and other substances.

The health of children is also likely to have been seriously effected from witnessing abuse or being victims of abuse themselves.

Health professionals can be the first point of contact for women. Women who have been abused use health services frequently and require wide ranging medical services. They are likely to be admitted to hospital more often than non-abused women are and are issued more prescriptions. Health workers may be the only professionals that they come into contact with, especially on their own.

Pregnancy and abuse

Domestic violence is a frequent cause of miscarriage. Research shows that women who experience domestic violence are more than twice as likely to have had a miscarriage or stillbirth as other women are. Many women also report more severe violence whilst pregnant than at any other times and domestic violence is more likely to begin during pregnancy

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