Interactions Between Victims of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women and the Health Care System

Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects the use of health care by increasing the risk of poor health outcomes. IPV victims seek health services as often as others but are less likely to receive needed services, more likely to overuse services, and more likely to have a poor relationship with their health care provider. This stems from patient and provider barriers to care that are exacerbated by the lack of a clear and consistent health care system response to IPV. Most health care systems are not equipped to assist either victims or providers seeking to help victims. There are a few models of system-wide interventions, but these are not the current standard. A strong health policy framework is needed, but the decision of the U.S. Preventative Task Force not to recommend universal screening is a setback. Overall, there is limited progress in moving the health care system toward assisting IPV victims.