| Description |
This thesis analyzes the health of women who experience sexual violence within relationships including interpersonal violence (IPV), domestic violence, marital rape, and violence during pregnancy. Principles of health and well-being are the foundation of the Healthy People 2030 framework (the national goals for addressing public health issues in the United States), including disease prevention, elimination of health disparities, and engaging in action across multiple sectors. Health and well-being are multidimensional including physical, mental, emotional, social, and financial health outcomes; and all aspects of health and well-being are interconnected. Existing literature reflects the truth of the prevalence of sexual violence within relationships. The literature also reflects the movements against sexual violence that has been a hallmark of feminist rights movements and social justice in general since the 1970's. This thesis aims to examine the history of sexual violence, the societal norms that perpetuated sexual violence, and what sexual violence looks like within various types of relationships to uncover the nuanced effects on dimensions of well-being. The interconnectedness of these effects on multiple dimensions of well-being will then be used to discuss methods for prevention and treatment in clinical settings. Based on the literature review and analysis, clinical applications for screening of IPV during pregnancy should be focused on increasing screening rates through the adoption of clinical screening policies, educating providers on screening including treatment after disclosures of violence, and understanding the applications of various screening tool types. |
