ICTs and Domestic Violence (DV): Exploring Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Background On Domestic Violence

ICTs offer access to timely and relevant information, which allows DV organizations to serve as advocates and respond to specific cases of abuse (Hamm, 2001). Online DV organizations also provide other advocates with health and support information in order to better facilitate and provide a solution to victims/survivors of DV and other related types of sensitive healthcare issues (Campbell, Sy, and Anderson, 2000; NCIPC, 2003). The amount of information available online is also used to provide online training for individuals and organizations that deal with violence against women (VAW). A specific focus in this paper is the use of ICTs for providing and facilitating support and care giving services to victims/survivors of DV. Traditionally, ICT use in healthcare and healthcare delivery, primarily focus on hospital settings such as health care givers interaction with one another and patients or pharmacies and other agencies such that issues surrounding telemedicine and informatics are a commonplace. Notwithstanding, the Center for Disease and Control (CDC) classifies domestic violence as a serious public health issue (2008). According to CDC (2017), domestic violence is a serious, yet preventable, public health problem affecting more than 32 million Americans—over 10% of the United States population (CDC, 2008, 2017). The intimate partner violence (IPV) alone affecting more than 12 million people each year. Women are disproportionately impacted (CDC, 2017).