Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior in a relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner.
The abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, financial, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person.
- A woman is abused every 9-15 seconds.
- Three fourths of domestic violence victims are reported to have one or more children under the age of 18 years of age.
- 26% of murdered women are killed by their husbands or boyfriends.
- 30% of women in emergency rooms are there because of injuries from abuse.
- Medical expenses caused by domestic violence in the U.S. totals between 3-5 billion dollars annually.
- Children are present during 80% of the assaults against their mother.
- 25% of domestic violence victims are pregnant at the time of the abuse.
