Violence Against Women

SAFETY ALERT: If you are in danger please call 911 or the 24-hour Iowa Victim Service Call Center at 1-800-770-1650 or text "iowahelp" to 201211-800-770-1650

The Public Health Approaches to Violence Against Women Program offers resources for health care providers to improve their responses to victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual assault.

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What is Intimate Partner Violence?

The term "Intimate Partner Violence" (often called Domestic Violence) describes 

  • physical violence,
  • sexual violence,
  • stalking, or
  • other psychological violence (including coercion) by a current or former intimate partner. 

The violence occurs on a continuum ranging from a single incident to long-term and ongoing episodes of violence. 

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What is Sexual Assault?

A sexual assault is a sexual act that is forced or coerced. A person of any age, gender, race/ethnicity, or economic status can be sexually assaulted. 

It is estimated that 1 in 3 women in Iowa have experienced contact sexual violence (including rape, sexual coercion, and/or unwanted sexual contact) in their lifetime. These estimates come from The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey 2010-2012 State Report.

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Prevention Strategies

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Provider Resources

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Program Goals 

The program collaborates to improve system response to survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence by:

  • offering training and technical assistance to health care providers, and other professionals, on the impact of intimate partner and sexual violence on health;
  • developing protocols for health care providers and organizations on identifying and intervening with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault;
  • participating in numerous coalitions, work groups, and coordinated community response teams focused on intimate partner violence/sexual violence and intersecting risk and protective factors;
  • assisting with activities during Sexual Assault Awareness Month which is held during every April, and Domestic Violence Awareness Month held in October
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IPV Data

While IPV is difficult to accurately measure, national surveys indicate that one in three women have experienced some form of intimate partner violence by a current or former partner at some point in their lives. 

While relatively few women report the abuse to law enforcement authorities, many are seen by health care providers, who have the opportunity to identify the abuse, provide education, and intervene before the abuse becomes fatal. In Iowa all hospitals are required to have a protocol in place for the identifying and intervening with patients who experience domestic violence (Iowa Administrative Code [481] 51.7(3).)

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Training, Programs & Contact

If you are interested in your agency or program receiving training on the impact of intimate partner violence/sexual violence on the health of the populations you serve, contact:  Monica Goedken, MPA monica.goedken@idph.iowa.gov 

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