CDC - Domestic Violence Study
Results
ATLANTA, Oct. 25 /U.S. Newswire/
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has
released the results of the first study that identifies the healthcare
costs and impact of domestic violence incidents, where men as well as
women are victims.
Domestic violence, which is also called spouse abuse or
battering or intimate partner violence (IPV), affects more than 32 million
Americans each year; with more than two million injuries and claims
and approximately 1,300 deaths. This type of violence includes physical,
sexual, or psychological harm to another by a current or former partner
or spouse.
The study, co-authored by Ileana Arias, Ph.D., director
of CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, and published
in the journal Violence and Victims, found the health care costs associated
with each incident were $948 in cases where women were the victims and
$387 in cases where men were the victims. The study also found that
domestic violence against women results in more emergency room visits
and inpatient hospitalizations, including greater use of physician services
than domestic violence where men are the victims.
"This study clearly shows the true impact of domestic
violence," said Arias. "Domestic violence, especially against
women, causes a range of emotional, physical, and financial harm for
victims and their families. We need to continue our efforts to prevent
this type of violence, including broadening our focus to also address
the needs of men who are victims."
CDC researchers determined healthcare costs by looking
at mental health services; the use of medical services such as emergency
departments, inpatient hospitals, and physician services; and losses
in productivity such as time off from work, childcare or household duties
because of injuries. The average medical cost for women victimized by
physical domestic violence was $483 compared to $83 for men; mental
health services costs for women was $207 compared to $80 for men; while
productivity losses were similar at $257 for women and $224 for men.
Phaedra Corso, Ph.D., a CDC economist and the study's other author,
noted that a previous CDC study using 1995 data that was published in
2003 provided estimates of the total direct healthcare costs of domestic
violence. According to Corso, that study estimated the direct healthcare
costs associated with domestic violence to be around $4.1 billion. In
addition, the study estimated that domestic violence caused an estimated
$1.8 billion in productivity losses associated with injuries and premature
death.
"Unfortunately, we believe the estimates using 1995
data are conservative because many cases of domestic violence are not
reported," Corso said. "In today's dollars, the health care
and productivity costs are likely to be much greater. Ultimately, the
economic burden of domestic violence impacts all of society. Hospitals,
workplaces, and communities must devote and be able to provide resources
to treating and assisting victims, while the criminal justice system,
mental health providers, employers and the community must bear a variety
of other costs."
For more information on Domestic Violence/IPV please
visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/factsheets/ipvfacts.htm.
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