Intimate partner violence also called IPV, is domestic violence by a partner against another partner who are in an intimate relationship. IPV is behavior in a relationship is intimate which often leads to psychological, sexual, as well as physical harm. You will notice acts of sexual coercion, controlling behavior, psychological abuse, physical aggression, among other actions. This type of violence that is done in intimate relationships may be done by a former partner and spouse or by a current partner and spouse. In most cases, the violence is done by men against women.
It is vital for you to understand that intimate partner violence leads to various negative consequences. People that go through this kind of violence experience a number of health problems. Someone can get mental as well as neurological ailments because the thought of the violence torments one’s brain. As you are aware, your brain is a vital part of your body that ensures you experience certain feelings in life. Depending on the surrounding, your brain will either make you happy or sad, an achiever or a failure, loved or hated, among others. Someone that has gone through intimate partner violence is also likely to develop health risk behaviors. You can also get various communicable ailments as a result. Sometimes IPV can make one partner suffer from reproductive and sexual health issues.
Apart from health issues, intimate partner violence can also lead to other social issues. Someone may feel fed up and remove their pregnancy because they feel they do not deserve to be with the other partner anymore. Pregnancy termination is not such a wise move. You will endanger your life and your reproductive health. IPV is also known for causing separation and divorce in marriages. This is a move that affects everyone in the society. The kids are the ones that suffer the most when such situations happen.
It is, therefore, vital for you to understand the root cause of intimate partner violence so that the situation can be dealt with properly. Substance and alcohol abuse can be one cause of IPV. When someone is under the influence of alcohol and drugs, their judgment is affected. Other things that are likely to lead to intimate partner violence are getting unplanned pregnancy, gambling, witnessing IPV when you are a child, any previous violence victimization, experiencing mental and neurological disorders, marital dissatisfaction, social norms that support violence, among other causes.
The following are some of the measures that should be taken to mitigate intimate partner violence. People should stand up to challenge various social norms that are supportive of domestic violence. It is also vital that various trainings on gender equality and violence are held for groups of individuals. Alcohol and substance abuse should also be minimized or stopped all together. Since sometimes violence arises due to communication issues, people should be taught how to effectively communicate in relationships. If you are a victim of IPV, you should seek medical attention to make sure your health is okay. You should also for therapy so that your mental condition is also okay. Children who have witnesses IPV should also be counselled so that they do not develop any mental disorder.