Domestic Violence - Term Paper Example

Domestic Violence Introduction Domestic violence is not only a contemporary concern but also a critical healthcare issue across the globe. According to Smith, Rainey, Smith, Alamares, and Grogg (2008), domestic violence cuts across the nation, Florida being not an exception. Nonetheless, the main challenge experienced with respect to domestic violence is the ambiguity of its abuse definition. Despite the ambiguity in domestic violence abuse definition, it does not discriminate since it cuts across the entire socio-economical spectrum (Smith et al., 2008). The following questions attempt to provide an insight understanding of the concept of domestic violence. 1) According to Stanhope & Lancaster, what are the types of family violence?

According to Stanhope and Lancaster, types of family violence include sexual, emotional, physical and child abuses. Family violence also includes child neglect and abuse of female partners and older adults. In most cases, abuses in this regards are usually a process done repeatedly. Female partners who experience physical abuses in some case end up being abused sexually. Stanhope and Lancaster believe that abuse is about power and control that includes amongst other activities isolation, threats, and intimidation.

Abuse also includes using children, being cruel to children or partner, withholding support, as well as withholding rights associated with sex or affection. In addition, the researchers identified some of the risk factors that are linked to child or partner abuse. For instance, in line with child abuse, the risk factors that may prompt a parent to engage in activities that violate the rights of a child include lack of social support, low tendency with respect to depression, and stress factors amongst others. 2) According to the Smith et al.

article (found in Week 5), what are the issues surrounding reporting domestic violence? Various issues surround reporting of domestic violence as asserted by Smith et al. (2008). The most commonly cited factor behind reporting domestic violence is availability of evidence. According to the research carried out by Smith et al. (2008), domestic violence can only be reported once enough evidence has been established without which it becomes difficult to report the same. In addition, patient’s willingness to record the episode determines the reporting of violence.

There are some patients who are unwilling to report violent incidences hence a challenge in reporting the same. Nurse or patient confidentiality also played a significant role in determining reporting of domestic violence. Other factors as identified from the study by Smith et al. (2008) include disruptions of family relationships, retaliation and repercussions fears, uncomfortable with the situation and problem may not be considered serious by certain victims. Smith et al. (2008) also identified the fact that there are patients or victims who are unwilling to let such be police of court issues whereas some persons of authority of institution involved were unwilling to report due to one reason or another.

It is also true that there are victims who do not know how to report incidences of domestic violence while there are those who fear reporting the same due to fear of intrusion of privacy especially from investigating personnel. Lastly, Smith et al. (2008) identified that time constraints, being unaware of laws regarding reporting, as well as other people other than the victims taking responsibility of reporting are some of the factors behind reporting of domestic violence. 3) According to Stanhope & Lancaster, what are the types of violence against individuals and oneself?

Other than the aforementioned domestic violence, Stanhope and Lancaster identified various types of violence against individuals and oneself. The types of violence against individuals as identified by Stanhope and Lancaster include homicide commonly known as murder, robbery, rape, and assault. On the other hand, violence against oneself may include suicide. Stanhope and Lancaster confirmed that homicide is the eleventh leading cause of death within America but the main cause of death amongst the youth.

On the other hand, the United States experienced rape as the most form of unreported abuse. Rape is one form of abuse that makes victim vulnerable to many other complications. Other than physical injury, rape victims are exposed to dangers of contracting Sexually Transmitted Infections, HIV/AIDS, as well as getting unwanted and unplanned for pregnancies. Assault of individuals leads to emotional torture, which significantly posses great threat to such individual’s healthcare systems. As a matter of fact, many rape victims are always required to follow up mental health services in order to remove them out of danger.

Suicide is another form of abuse against oneself. Many people commit suicide due to various reasons attributable to emotional and mental anguish References Smith, J., Rainey, S., Smith, K., Alamares, C., and Grogg, D. (2008). “Barriers to the mandatory reporting of domestic violence encountered by nursing professionals. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 15(1); 9-11