healthcarejournalbr.com | July / August 2008 Issue |
Healthcare Journal of Baton Rouge
35
Violence against women is a significant social
problem, as there is a high probability that any
woman will experience some type of violence in
her lifetime. According to the most recent
National Violence Against Women survey, over
half of all women report an experience of attempt-
ed or completed rape and/or physical assault
sometime in their lifetime. Further, around 30% of
women say they have been abused by a current
or former intimate partner.
These numbers are staggering when considering
the significant physiological and psychological
consequences of sexual assault or intimate part-
ner violence. The numbers are also alarming con-
sidering that many women do not report or dis-
close the violence in their lives due to their fears
about negative, skeptical reactions from legal and
law enforcement professionals. They also fear
negative reactions from family and friends, partic-
ularly when the violence was perpetrated by an
acquaintance, family member, or intimate partner.
In addition, they blame themselves, questioning
their role in the event. Often women delay disclo-
sures for years, never telling anyone about their
experiences. Sadly, because of their fears and
self-blame, many women conceal their pain and
do not seek out the support services and mental
health counseling they need.
Even though they generally do not seek out coun-
seling, women with an abuse history do utilize the
healthcare system, and do so at much higher
rates than non-abused women. Compared with
women who have no abuse history, they use a
disproportionate amount of healthcare services
(including visits to EDs and to primary care
providers), use more prescription drugs, are hos-
pitalized more frequently, and undergo more sur-
gical procedures. These data are important
because they indicate that healthcare providers
may be among the first professionals to work with
women survivors of sexual assault or intimate
partner violence. Therefore, it is important for
them to remain mindful of potential signs/symp-
toms and to be as prepared as possible to make
adequate referrals.
According to the most recent National Violence Against
Women survey, over half of all women report an experi-
ence of attempted or completed rape and/or physical
assault sometime in their lifetime.
Providing informa-
tion about appropri-
ate resources in the
Baton Rouge com-
munity can be an
important first step.
1847:
The governor of Louisiana approves
legislation establishing the state's first state
mental hospital at Jackson.
1848:
New Jersey builds humane facility for the mentally
ill largely due to efforts of American Dorothea Dix. Entire
mentally ill population (approx. 85 patients) of Charity
Hospital in New Orleans transported by steamboat up the
Mississippi River to Bayou Sara and then by oxcart to the
Insane Asylum of Louisiana at Jackson.