FOR
too many women who are victims of domestic violence, especially for
those who have been abused physically and emotionally, the hospital may
be a place to visit for succour and strength.
My first case of domestic violence was
as a young, single doctor in my late 20s. On this particular day, I had
reported for night duty at the hospital where I was into private
practice. A good-looking woman, who ran an after, school class in the
city, came in for consultation: The following conversation took place.
Patient: Good evening.
Doctor: Good evening, how may I help you?
Patient: My husband beat me this night.
Doctor: Sorry, did you? have any injury, cut, bruises, blood or swelling because of the incident?
Patient: No injury, please admit me, she said.
Doctor: Admit you.
(This is the first case of domestic violence I will be treating).There
is no injury, no bruises and I can’t see any signs of physical trauma.
Patient: Yes, I want him to come and pay. Please, let the nurse call to inform him, I am on admission.
Doctor: Ok, I will admit you because of emotional trauma and inform your husband that you are on admission.
We discharged the patient the following
morning. She was happy and appeared to be more stable emotionally and
she even exchanged her contacts with some members of staff of the
hospital. Her husband came around to pick her and paid the hospital bill
even though he wondered why an overnight bill would be so high.
We gave him the breakdown of the bill
that comprised such things as consultation, counselling session
(psychotherapy), accommodation, feeding, and medication fees.
He exclaimed, ‘All these in one night’.
I met the same woman about two years
later; she expressed her appreciation for the way we handled that case.
She is now reconciled with the husband. She said the counselling
sessions helped them as a couple.
This is to encourage many women, who are
victims of domestic violence to come forward, seek succour in the
hospital or other accredited organisations.
Domestic violence is an abuse committed
against an adult or a minor who is a spouse, former spouse, cohabitant,
former cohabitant, or person with whom the suspect has had a child or
has had a dating or engagement relationship.
It is a pattern of coercive behaviour
used by adults or adolescents to control their partners. It involves
physical assault or the threat of it.
Types of abuse in domestic violence
They are physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, sexual, economic and spiritual.
Causes
There is no specific cause of domestic
violence. Women at the highest risk of being the victims of domestic
violence include those with male partners, who abuse drugs (especially
alcohol), unemployed or underemployed, and are or have been in a
romantic relationship with the victims.
Drugs and alcohol do not cause domestic violence. Sixty-five per cent of DV cases have no substance abuse involved.
Poverty also is not cause of DV. DV crosses all socio-economic, cultural and racial boundaries.
Signs and symptoms indicating domestic violence
Chronic pain or areas of tenderness, especially at the extremities, bruises, welts, edema or scars.
Others are swelling of eyes, shoulder
dislocation, chronic headaches, sexual assault, signs of choking on
throat, split lip depression, addiction to prescription, medications,
alcohol, and/or illegal drugs.
Symptoms of post-traumatic stress
disorder, suicide attempt, isolation from friends and family-only ties
seem to be with partner. Work absenteeism/lateness indirectly brings up
the subject of abuse.
Impact on children
Boys who witness violence against their
mothers are 10 times more likely to abuse in adulthood than boys from
non-violent homes. (Parents be warned.)
Children who live with DV victims face
increased risks, which lead to negative outcomes and affect their
well-being, safety and stability. They are exposed to trauma, neglect,
and direct abuse, losing one or both parents
Impact on women
Women who suffer from DV experience
depression, higher stress, and lower self-esteem, more likely to smoke
tobacco, drink during pregnancy, receive less emotional support from
partners, have depressive symptoms, and develop a chronic mental
illness. They may have unplanned pregnancy, unprotected sex, sexually
transmitted infections, intentional termination of pregnancy.
