Domestic Violence as a Public Health Issue

 We believe that a healthy community means all Iowans should be safe in their homes without fear of abuse. By looking at IPV as a public health issue we aim to change social conditions and structures that influence IPV perpetration and victimization and change IPV rates across Iowa. To begin to examine domestic violence with a public health lens we are asking ourselves if IPV is Prevalent, Predictable, and Preventable.

 Prevalent: Yes, the problem occurs frequently with in a population. In 2008 there were 22,508 victims of domestic abuse that received services and 82,077 calls to the Iowa Crisis Hotline for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Since 1995, 180 Iowans have been killed in domestic abuse murders.

 Predictable: Yes, to some extent factors that influence violence can be identified and measured. There has been some research done on the risk and protective factors for perpetration and victimization.

 Preventable: Now that we have said there is a problem and we have some ideas of what contributes to the problem, it is time to work to prevent the problem from happening.