Domestic Violence Victims More Likely to Take Up Smoking

Photo credit: Sergio Morchon, Flickr

One third of women around the world have experienced physical or sexual violence at the hands of their intimate partners with consequences from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression, to sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Now, in a new study in 29 low-income and middle-income countries, researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health have identified yet another serious health risk associated with intimate partner violence (IPV): smoking.

Women are thought to smoke tobacco to self-medicate to cope with stress from IPV. Many may be unaware of the serious health risks; tobacco kills half of its users, according to the World Health Organization.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140505112540.htm

Abstract available at Global Public Health: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/17441692.2014.905616#.U2fc4q1dWH4