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Curriculum for General Practice - The Royal New Zealand College ...

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Family Violence<br />

F<br />

Family Violence<br />

Family violence is common and is a<br />

serious social issue in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong><br />

affecting all ages from children to older<br />

people, cultures, geographical areas<br />

and socioeconomic groups. It leads to<br />

significant health issues, both physical and<br />

psychological <strong>for</strong> the person being abused<br />

and the family/whānau around them.<br />

About half the homicides and 58 percent of reported crimes<br />

in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> are family violence-related. However,<br />

although police attend a domestic violence callout every six<br />

minutes, it is estimated that only 20 percent of episodes are<br />

actually reported. 1<br />

<strong>The</strong> general practitioner is often the key health professional<br />

associated with a family/whānau. Being alert to the risk of<br />

family violence and being willing to discuss this in a safe,<br />

confidential and open way may have a significant impact on<br />

the management and health outcomes of those affected.<br />

It may also impact on the general practitioner’s ability to<br />

offer help to those who perpetrate the abuse, should they<br />

disclose their activity or the general practitioner becomes<br />

aware of it. Recognising the various supportive and<br />

preventive factors that reduce the risk of family violence is<br />

essential to the general practitioner.<br />

1<br />

http://www.areyouok.org.nz/files/statistics/ItsnotOK_recent_family_violence_stats.pdf (accessed April 2012)<br />

2<br />

http://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/work-programmes/initiatives/action-family-violence/task<strong>for</strong>ce-report-first-report-action-on-violence.pdf<br />

3<br />

Fanslow and Robinson E. 2004. Violence against Women in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong>: Prevalence and health consequences <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> Medical Journal 117<br />

4<br />

See Balzer R, Haimona D, Henare M, Matchitt V. 1997. Māori Family Violence In Aotearoa, A Report Prepared <strong>for</strong> Te Puni Kōkiri, Wellington; Lievore, Denise and<br />

Mayhew, Pat (with assistance from Elaine Mossman). 2007. <strong>The</strong> Scale and Nature of Family Violence in <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong>: A Review and Evaluation of Knowledge: Crime<br />

and Justice Research Centre & Centre <strong>for</strong> Social Research and Evaluation, Victoria University of Wellington; Erai M, Pitama W, Allen E, Pou N. 2007.<br />

http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/scale-nature-family-violence/<br />

5<br />

Ministry of Social Development. 2011. Every Child Thrives, Belongs, Achieves. Wellington: Ministry of Social Development.<br />

6<br />

Snively. 1996. <strong>The</strong> <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> Economic Cost of Family Violence.<br />

www.rnzcgp.org.nz<br />

<strong>Curriculum</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>General</strong> <strong>Practice</strong><br />

69

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