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Miller, Brenda A.; and Downs, William R. Women and Health, pgs. 529-540 (2000) In this chapter, we present an overview of the range and extent of violence against adult women. Difficulties in ascertaining rates of violence against women are discussed and barriers to ascertaining violence are identified, both for the health care system that responds to women and for individuals self-reporting their experiences of violence. These barriers are better understood within the cultural and historical responses to violence and a short summary of this history is presented. Opportunities for identifying and treating women who have been victimized are discussed, with a particular focus on the health care system as an important point of intervention for women. Women's exposure to violence occurs throughout the life span, yet there are numerous opportunities, particularly within physical and mental health care settings, to identify victims of violence and offer appropriate interventions.
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