Domestic abuse is a public health issue that transcends the criminal justice system

The impact of this violence extends far beyond the abusive relationship itself and has troubling long-term consequences for the health of victims, writes Maya Oppenheim

Experts warn of ‘devastating impact on the lives of women and children’ (Getty)

Women who have suffered domestic abuse are 44 per cent more likely to die from any cause than the wider population – demonstrating the need for it to be viewed as a public health issue rather than solely a matter for the criminal justice system.

A new study by researchers at the University of Warwick and Birmingham also discovered survivors of such abuse are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The high mortality rates suffered by women subject to domestic abuse demonstrate the need for public agencies, namely the NHS and police, to recognise the impact of such violence extends far beyond the abusive relationship itself and has troubling long-term consequences.

Dr Joht Singh Chandan, the study’s lead author who is based at both Warwick and Birmingham universities, said: “These women will be going to NHS services. There is a burden on NHS services which is potentially preventable.

“The prevalence of domestic abuse is so extensive. Cardiovascular affects up to 11 per cent of the population, type 2 diabetes affects up to seven per cent, whereas domestic abuse affects one in four women in the UK.

“The high risk of physical and mental ill-health related to domestic abuse creates a huge public health burden of disease. Therefore an approach that could be applied is a public health approach to abuse. This would firstly entail improved detection and identification of abuse and secondly the implementation of interventions that prevent the negative consequences of abuse.”

Previous studies by Dr Chandan’s team have found women subjected to domestic abuse are almost twice as likely to develop fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome – two long-term illnesses which cause extensive pain and acute exhaustion – as well as being three times more likely to develop severe mental illnesses.

Lucy Hadley, of Women’s Aid, a national domestic abuse charity, said: “Domestic abuse has a devastating impact on the lives of women and children. As this study shows, physical, sexual and psychological abuse, and the experience of living in an environment of control, can lead to severe and long-lasting physical and mental health problems.

“We need the government to stop responding to domestic abuse as a criminal justice issue alone. It must deliver a comprehensive response, including through public health approaches, to meet women and children’s needs. It’s imperative that all healthcare professionals are properly trained in the dynamics of domestic abuse, and know how to signpost survivors to local, specialist domestic abuse services.”