[Partner violence and women's health]

Abstract

The World Health Organization declared violence against women to be a Public Health priority due to its magnitude. This problem affects in Spain one out of seven women, as shown by the 1999 survey conducted by the Instituto de la Mujer, and causes more than fifty annual deaths. The purpose of this essay is to review causes of violence against women and its consequences in health as well as the impact in medical services. The authors analyse the difficulties in systematic recognition of abused women and their neglect, despite the high prevalence, by health care professionals from open care and emergency services. In addition, measures undertaken by Health Authorities in recent years are reviewed. A set of recommendations aimed to eradicate violence against women is given, including those for social, health and research policies and health-professionals education and training.