A recent study showed that women who suffer ongoing physical abuse are almost three times as likely to use hospital emergency departments than women who are not. Those that suffer from emotional abuse also use significantly more health services than those not emotionaly abused, some 33% more.

Women whose abuse is ongoing use the most health services, followed by those whose abuse was recent, followed by those whose abuse was infrequent. Health care costs are 42%, 24% and 19% higher respectively than non-abused women.

Domestic abuse is associated with depression, low energy and diminshed social functioning. The study also indicated that approximately one third of all women will suffer from domestic abuse at some time in their life. This study suggests the need for early identification and intervention.

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