10.1177/0886260504269685JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE / November 2004Plichta / IPV AND PHYSICAL HEALTH CONSEQUENCES Intimate Partner Violence and Physical Health Consequences Policy and Practice Implications

Extensive research indicates that intimate partner violence (IPV) poses a significant risk to the physical health of women. IPV is associated with increased mortality, injury and disability, worse general health, chronic pain, substance abuse, reproduc-tive disorders, and poorer pregnancy outcomes. IPV is also associated with an over-use of health services and unmet need for services, as well as strained relationships with providers. The body of IPV research has several critical gaps. There are almost no longitudinal studies of IPV and health. Most studies are clustered into a few spe-cialties, with almost no research in the areas of allied health, dentistry, or manage-ment. A common definition of IPV is still not used. Finally, with some notable excep-tions, there has been little success in moving the health care system to routinely screen women for IPV