Although many of these incidents are relatively minor and consist of pushing, grabbing, shoving, slapping, and hitting, IPV resulted in approximately 1,300 deaths in the United States in 2017, with 162 deaths reported in Florida [7,8].One of the difficulties in addressing the problem is that abuse is prevalent in all demographics, regardless of age, ethnicity, race, religious denomination, education, or socioeconomic status [2].More than 36.4% of women and 33.6% of men have a lifetime history of IPV [4].
In addition, when family violence cases are identified, there should be a plan of action that includes providing information on, and referral to, local community resources related to legal aid, sheltering, victim counseling, batterer counseling, advocacy groups, and child protection.
Domestic violence, which is sometimes also referred to as spousal abuse, battering, or intimate partner violence (IPV), refers to the victimization of an individual with whom the abuser has or has had an intimate or romantic relationship.
Accordingly, it is essential that healthcare professionals are taught to recognize and accurately interpret behaviors associated with domestic violence.
It is incumbent upon the healthcare professional to establish and implement protocols for early identification of domestic violence victims and their abusers.
Following the economic downturn in late 2008, there was a significant increase in the use of the National Domestic Violence Hotline in 2009, with more than half of victims reporting a change in household financial situation in the last year [15].
In response to troubling domestic violence statistics, Governor Lawton Chiles appointed a Task Force on Domestic Violence on September 28, 1993, to investigate the problems associated with domestic violence in Florida and to compile recommendations as to how the problems should be approached and ultimately resolved.Accordingly, each healthcare professional should educate himself or herself to enhance awareness of the presence of abuse victims in his or her particular practice or clinical setting.Specifically, healthcare professionals should be aware of the signs and symptoms associated with domestic violence.Studies reveal that several factors may have contributed to the reduction in violence, including a decline in the marriage rate and decrease of domesticity, better access to federally funded domestic violence shelters, improvements in women's economic status, and demographic trends, such as the aging of the population [13,14].Of note, declines in the economy and stress associated with financial hardship and unemployment are significant contributors to IPV in the United States.The national rate of nonfatal domestic violence against women declined 72% between 19 [11].