Violence

Violence involves the use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against oneself, another person, or a group of individuals. It results in or is highly likely to result in injury, death, mental harm or problems with growth and psychological development. There are three broad categories of violence: self directed (including deliberate self-harm and suicide); interpersonal (including violence against women); and collective (political, ethnic or group violence). Physical injury, death, and psychological harm resulting from violence all have an impact on the health sector by increasing the burden of health care use, visits to the emergency rooms, and need for rehabilitation services. Factors that contribute to violence are usually understood at four interrelated levels: individual, relationships, community and societal. Violence against women involves intimate partners, affects a vulnerable population and directly impacts children. It is often sexual in nature or perpetrated within a context of social and economic inequity between genders.