15C Health and Social Care Issue – Domestic Violence
Highlights:
1. Domestic Violence
Form
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Deprivation
- Neglect
Target
- Spouse battering
- Child abuse
- Elderly abuse
2. Factors Leading to Domestic Violence
Society
- Societal factors such as the cultural norms that give absolute authority and power to male over female
Community
- Organizations outside the family, including schools, companies, religious organizations, hospitals and community centres, in which domestic violence can be effectively discovered and intervened
Interpersonal Relationship / Family
- How social relationships, e.g. family relationship, increase the risk for violence
Individual
- Biological factors and personal history causing domestic violence, including the individual’s psychological response and characteristics such as impulsiveness
3. Impacts on Holistic Health (e.g. elderly abuse)
Physical
- Death or physical injuries due to physical abuse
- Complications or degeneration due to the neglect
Social
- Social withdrawal due to the feeling of shame or unwilling to disclose family problems to others
- Poor social relationships within or outside the family due to the family conflicts
Mental
- Physical or any forms of abuse are stressors
- Low self-image and self-esteem due to the loss of control or being victimized
- Negative emotional health status or depression or due to the unhealthy relationships with the abusers
4. Support and Services Available for Individuals and Families
Primary prevention
- Aims : to arouse public concern on domestic violence and promote family harmony
- Example : Family life education
Secondary prevention
- Aims : to identify risk factors of violence and provide surveillance, early identification and intervention
- Example : referral (immediate referrals from healthcare professionals and social workers when they identify the signs of abuse in check-ups or counseling)
Tertiary prevention
- Aims : to reduce relapse and casualty of domestic violence
- Example : shelter home, crisis Intervention and support centre
Reading:
Application:
Tasks & Worksheets
Coming Soon
Assessing my learning
- What are the implications of domestic violence to an individual, a family, a community and a society?
- How can we prevent domestic violence in different levels?