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Intimate partner violence is a widespread, serious and preventable public health problem. It impacts not only the individuals directly involved but their families, communities, and society. Although domestic violence happens in all types of relationships and communities, it’s more likely to occur in contexts where other risk factors are present that increase stress and create barriers to accessing services. These include high rates of poverty, unemployment, and cultural norms that support aggression toward others. Prevention strategies that tackle these risk factors and boost protective factors such as strong social ties and stable housing are key to ending domestic violence.
The public health implications of intimate partner violence are vast. For individuals, domestic violence can result in injury, illness and death. U.S. crime data shows that about one in five homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. Domestic violence may increase the risk of physical and mental health problems. Children who witness domestic violence also face higher long-term risks for health problems. At the societal level, intimate partner violence has huge economic consequences.
Prevention is central to addressing domestic violence. Effective prevention campaigns tackle violence at the individual, relationship, community and societal level. The CDC outlines multiple, evidence-based prevention strategies for intimate partner violence, and funds prevention in various states. Organizations serving survivors say much more prevention funding is needed, even as existing funding is under threat.
Prevention strategies include:
- Educating youth about healthy relationships. California schools are required by law to teach students about healthy relationships. State funding cuts have diminished these programs. Parental pushback against sexual and gender-related education presents an additional challenge.
- Engaging boys and men as allies. Several programs have sought to promote social norms that are protective against violence through peer groups of men, such as athletic teams and fraternities. These include Coaching Boys into Men and the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color’s Healing Together campaign.
- Home visitation programs. Research shows that home visits from trained professionals during pregnancy and early childhood can improve outcomes for children and families, including by reducing domestic violence. Programs include the California Home Visiting Program.
- Improving school, workplace and neighborhood safety. The environments where people live, work and play affect their risk of exposure to violence. Policies and programs that encourage social connectedness, physical safety, and social norms that reject intimate partner violence can make these environments safer.
- Strengthening economic support for families. Financial insecurity creates stress in families, increases the risk for conflict and erects barriers to accessing healing and prevention resources. Policies and programs that improve economic security can help address this. They include paid parental leave, tax credits for low-income families, childcare subsidies, cash aid, food assistance and free or low-cost health insurance.
- Services and protections for domestic violence survivors. Services include shelter, crisis intervention, medical and legal advocacy, and housing support. Legal protections include restraining orders and firearm restrictions for people convicted of domestic violence. Restorative justice approaches that offer survivors an alternative to criminal justice involvement are also emerging in some communities.
