Domestic Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of Americans. The term "intimate partner violence" describes physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse. This type of violence can occur among heterosexual or same-sex couples and does not require sexual intimacy.

There are four main types of intimate partner violence:

Physical violence is the intentional use of physical force with the potential for causing death, disability, injury, or harm. Physical violence includes, but is not limited to, scratching; pushing; shoving; throwing; grabbing; biting; choking; shaking; slapping; punching; burning; use of a weapon; and use of restraints or one's body, size, or strength against another person.

Sexual violence is divided into three categories:

1) use of physical force to compel a person to engage in a sexual act against his or her will, whether or not the act is completed;

2) attempted or completed sex act involving a person who is unable to understand the nature or condition of the act, to decline participation, or to communicate unwillingness to engage in the sexual act, e.g., because of illness, disability, or the influence of alcohol or other drugs, or because of intimidation or pressure; and

3) abusive sexual contact.

Threats of physical or sexual violence use words, gestures, or weapons to communicate the intent to cause death, disability, injury, or physical harm.

Psychological/emotional violence involves trauma to the victim caused by acts, threats of acts, or coercive tactics. Psychological/emotional abuse can include, but is not limited to, humiliating the victim, controlling what the victim can and cannot do, withholding information from the victim, deliberately doing something to make the victim feel diminished or embarrassed, isolating the victim from friends and family, and denying the victim access to money or other basic resources. It is considered psychological/emotional violence when there has been prior physical or sexual violence or prior threat of physical or sexual violence.

Resources

New York City - Office to Combat Domestic Violence

Georgia State Department of Human Resources

• Domestic Violence Safety Brochure in Hindi

Manavi - New Jersey based Organization

• www.manavi.org

Sakhi for South Asian Women - New York based Organization

• http://www.sakhi.org/

New York Asian Women's Center
Provides a 24 hour multilingual hotline (Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi, Gujrati)

• http://www.nyawc.org/index.html

Center for Disease Control - Domestic Violence Fact Sheet

• http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/ipv_factsheet.pdf
• http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/dvp/IPV/default.htm

National Domestic Violence Hotline

• http://www.ndvh.org/

Disclaimer

The purpose of the South Asian Total Health Initiative is to improve the delivery  of culturally responsive, family-centered care to diverse populations. SATHI provides technical assistance/consultation, education/training, and research/evaluation services. SATHI does not provide medical advice or clinical professional services. Any medical assistance or other decisions should be made in consultation with your physicians. The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey will not be liable for any complications, injuries, or other medical accidents arising from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon any information obtained from this website or on the Internet.

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