HHS HealthBeat (August 17, 2006)

Intimacy and abuse

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Abuse of women by men in their lives is more common than we'd like to think. A survey of women in Washington state and Idaho found 44 percent suffered some form of domestic violence, including sexual abuse and threats, at some time.

The study was supported by HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researcher Amy Bonomi of the Group Health Cooperative's Center for Health Studies in Seattle says women can seek help from crisis lines, authorities and doctors. And they can take action:

"They might want to make a safety plan, which would include keeping an extra set of keys and money – clothes for themselves and children – and informing friends and family of what they might do, should they need to leave the house in an emergency situation." (12 seconds)

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: September, 26 2006