Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) are committed against persons by their current or former spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends.  Such crimes are termed intimate partner violence, are committed primarily against women 85% of the time. 

Many victims do not report IPV to police, friends or family.  Victims think others will not believe them and that the police cannot help.

According to the CDC 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.

IPV resulted in 1,544 deaths in 2004.  Of these deaths, 25% were males and 75% were females.

The cost of IPV was an estimated $8.3 billion in 2003.  This cost includes medical care, mental health services and lost productivity (time away from work).

IPV Effects on 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, black eyes, and welts.  Others are more serious and can cause lasting disabilities.  These include broken bones, internal bleeding, and head trama.

Not all injuries are physical.  IPV can also cause emotional harm.

Victims often have low self-esteem.  They may have a hard time trusting others and being in relationships.  The anger and stress that victims feel may lead to eating disorders and depression.  Some vicitms even think about or committ suicide.

IPV is linked to harmful health behaviors as well.  Vicitms are more likely to smoke, abuse alcohol, use drugs, and engage in risky sexual activity.

Most victims of intimate partner homicide are killed by their spouses, although much less so in recent years.  In 1998 murders by spouses represented 53% of all intimate partner homicides.  While females represent the only category of vicitms for whom intimate partner homicide has hot decreased. 

Marital status

Both men and women, divorced or separated persons were subject to the highest rates of intimate partner victimization. 
A womens chance of being hurt or killed increases 75% while in the process or after leaving an abusive relationship. 

Almost two-thirds of intimate partner violence against women, and about half of all IPV against men, occurres in the victim's home. 

Serveral studies istimate the impact that IPV violence has on homelessness or on residing in shelters for homeless or battered persons.  One study suggested that 50% of homeless women & children became homeless after fleeing abuse. (US Department of Justice, Office of Justice Program)