Many people suffer from health problems as a consequence of domestic violence. Domestic violence refers to the situation when one partner in a family abuses the other partner or children in the family, and this abuse can either be physical or sexual. For the longest time, domestic violence advocates have been in the frontline headlining the fight against the issue. However, public health workers are essential in reducing or controlling the incidences of domestic violence since it often leads to health consequences that advocates cannot handle. The public health system also focuses on primary preventive measures, and lastly, survivors of domestic violence may require services that encourage healing and prevent victimization.
Public health workers are important because victims of domestic violence have been noticed to develop some health complications as opposed to family members who do not experience domestic violence. For example, victims are more likely to suffer from chronic pain, difficulty sleeping, frequent headaches, and poor mental and general health. In such a scenario, health workers are better placed in helping the victims since they have the required skills necessary for countering these effects.
Public health workers are also necessary since the approach followed by the public health sector focuses on introducing preventive measures. These actions are mostly primary and aim at handling domestic violence before it occurs. This is important because it has been studied that most people do not fully recover from the issue regarding their psychological health, especially if this violence is sexual by nature. The strategies employed in this approach are mostly educational aimed at teaching people about respect and healthy relationship. With these qualities, the cases of domestic violence would almost be non-existent.
Once an individual has been exposed to domestic violence, there is a need to employ methods that will help curtail the effects of the experience of the victim. Most victims have been noticed to suffer long-time consequences, and in most cases, the victims face victimization. Public health workers are essential in ensuring that once the victim had suffered abuse, the further impacts are minimized, and their health status is restored as quickly as possible.
Some individuals would argue that public health workers do not play a role in countering domestic violence and that domestic violence advocates are sufficient in their role. While these advocates have been instrumental in offering efficient services to the victims, it is important to note that the services provided do not equal to the number of affected individuals. Moreover, these advocates are in no position to deal with most of the health and long-term consequences resulting from domestic violence.
In conclusion, while domestic violence advocates are essential in providing services such as shelters for affected people, one cannot ignore the role played by health workers. Countering domestic violence control would be more efficient if both parties were given specific roles in monitoring the vice and eliminating it from our society.
Chamberlain, L. (2008). A Prevention Primer for Domestic Violence: Terminology, Tools, and the Public Health Approach. VAWnet Applied Research Forum.
Michele, C. B. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Summary Report. National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey.
Fullwood, P. C. (2002). Preventing family violence: community engagement makes the difference. Family Violence Prevention Fund.