Risk factors for abuse include marital problems, substance abuse, unemployment, and financial burdens. Domestic violence is a leading indicator that child abuse is happening in the home. In 1997l, 3.1 million cases of child abuse were reported, and 1,215 children died of abuse. Role of the health care provider Physicians in a wide range of specialties are recognizing that domestic violence is a serious public health problem. Many professional medical organizations, including the AAP, AAFP, and the AMA, have developed policy statements that deal with the medical identification of and response to domestic violence.
Domestic violence is recognized as an issue with significant medical consequences, including death.
As a health care provider, you can take several steps to address the problem of domestic violence in your own practice. Learn how to talk with families about violence in the home. Talk with patients in a private setting. Introduce the topic by noting that violence is recognized as a risk factor for a variety of health problems. Remember that the medical record is a relatively public document, and that both parents have the legal right to read their child's chart.