BA Public Health: Domestic Violence and Abuse in Disabled Community

This report examines the issue of domestic violence and abuse within the disabled community in England, where 1 in 5 people are disabled and experience higher rates of abuse. It highlights the complexities of domestic abuse faced by disabled individuals, including the increased severity and frequency of abuse, broader forms of abuse from various perpetrators, and unique types of domestic violence such as coercion and control from carers. The report emphasizes that disabled people face specific risk factors that decrease their ability to protect themselves, recognize abuse, or escape abusive situations. It includes an introduction to domestic violence and abuse, characteristics of the disabled community, health status, current provisions, sociograms, community views on health needs and services, stakeholders, and an action plan, concluding with a summary of the key points. Desklib offers a range of study tools and resources for students, including similar reports and solved assignments.

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Executive summary:
In England, there is significant minority of the disabled people, which means 1 in 5 of the
population is disabled. Usually, peoples with disability experience higher rates of domestic
violence and abuse, and suffer with this type of abuse for longer period of time and on frequent
basis as compared to non-disabled people. Such disabled people face the abuse in broader form
and by more number of peoples such as their partners, members of the family, etc.
People with disability also face different types of domestic violence and these types are more
severe in nature such as coercion, control or domestic violence from carers. It can be said that
any person who face domestic violence and abuse may face broader risk factors, but peoples
with disability face particular type of risk. As they are in such situation which decrease their
capability to protect them, or ability to recognize, report and escape abuse.

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Contents
Introduction:...............................................................................................................................................4
Characteristics of the disabled community:................................................................................................4
Health status of the Community:................................................................................................................6
Current provisions:......................................................................................................................................7
Sociograms:.................................................................................................................................................8
Views of community related to the health needs and services:..................................................................8
Stakeholders:...............................................................................................................................................8
Action plan:.................................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion:..................................................................................................................................................9
References:................................................................................................................................................10

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Introduction:
Generally, disabled people face more severe consequences in context of the domestic violence as
compared to normal people, and also face more difficulty in getting the support (Reducing the
risk, 2018). Domestic violence and abuse with the disabled people is the topic which mainly
focuses on the domestic abuse experience by the disability people. The main purpose of the
Public Health England (PHE) is to defend and recover the health of the population and reduce
the health disparities. As part of the wider work program which aims to preventing the domestic
abuse. PHE highlights the experience of those peoples who are often affected by the domestic
abuse and ignored, and this includes peoples with disability, lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans
(LGBT) people, etc. This topic mainly improves the understanding of readers in context of the
complexities of the disabled people’s and experience related to the domestic violence and abuse
in the system of the public health.
Structure of this report includes brief introduction of the domestic violence and abuse, health
status of the community, current provisions, sociograms, views of community related to the
health needs and services, stakeholders, and action plan. Lastly, this paper is summarized with
the brief conclusion.
Characteristics of the disabled community:
The sense of the word disability has been disputed and it has different types of interpretations.
Meaning of this term also differs in terms of law or administration process. In context of the
Equality Act, disability means physical or mental damage that mainly has considerable and long
term contrary effect on the personal’s ability (Department for Work and Pensions, 2011; Office
for Disability Issues: HM Government, 2011). Disability is also defined by the UN and as per
this definition, a long term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in contact
with the different fences may delay their complete and real participation in the society (United
nations, 2006)
The manner in which community is organized, not the damage itself, rejects the people with
disability to completely participate in the society. Society excludes the disabled people by
different barriers such as discrimination, attitudes which reflects negativity, lack of support, etc.
The number of adults accompanied with the damage increase with the age. Almost 6% children’s
in UK have impairment as compared to 16% of working age adults and 45% of adults over state
pension age (Hague, Thiara & Mullender, 2010).
The point at which impairment is acquired by the people is at the time of their birth or during the
life course, as these influences the manner in which their impairment and its disabled factors
affect their lives. This community framed and shaped the discourse related to the disability. This
community seeks to access the living in independent manner, equality, education, employment,
etc. and it also resist the incapacitated people from being pitied, which means, over medicalised.

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People with disability experience inequalities in the health and major conditions of health, and
also die in younger age as compared to non-disabled people. The extent of these health
inequalities are difficult to assess because of the limitation on the outcomes related to the data in
context of the disabled people and this data is collected by the NHS providers and
commissioners (EHRC, 2017).
It must be noted that disabled people face more domestic abuse as compared to the non-disabled
people, and abuse experienced by them is more severe in nature and more frequent. The
consequences of the disability increases the risk related to the abuse. There are number of
international studies which reflect that disabled people have a additional Spartan effect and they
need extra support and if condition of the person is worsen or person required more support than
the risk related to the sexual assault, physical assault and domestic abuse also increased. As per
the collected data in context of the UK, consequences of the impairment increase the risk related
to the domestic violence (Flatley, et al. 2010).
It can be said that, peoples with disability bear more risk of physical assault because they are not
sufficiently able to defend themselves. Following are the figures related to the people with
disability in context of the domestic violence and abuse:
 Peoples with disability experience 1.6 times more violence as compared to people with
non-disability.
 In the last year, people with incapacity are 1.77 times more probably experience the
domestic abuse (Smith, Colemand, Eder & Hall, 2011).
Disabled people also deals with the domestic violence in the broader context and generally from
the others which include their partners, members of family, personal care assistants and also the
health care professionals. Disabled people encounters the different dynamics related to the
domestic abuse and this includes the severe coercion, control or abuse from the carers. Domestic
abuse can also happen in the situation when any other person withholds, destroys or manipulates
the equipment related to the medical, access related to the communication, medication, personal
care, meals and transportation.
Public Health England published report related to the disability and domestic violence in 2015,
and this report reflects the evidence and statistical information related to domestic violence
which affects the disabled people. This report highlighted those higher rates of the domestic
abuse that is experienced by the domestic abuse.
The differences between the genders while experiencing the domestic abuse are similar to the
disabled people also. It can be said that disabled women generally experience more domestic
abuse in comparison of the disabled men, and their experience are more frequent and more
severe in comparison of the disabled men. However, disability carries more risk related to the
domestic abuse, and number of times it is proved that disabled men suffer more domestic abuse

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as compared to women. Therefore, it can be said that, disabled men experience a similar rate of
domestic abuse as disabled women.
Health status of the Community:
In UK, number of barriers is faced by the people with disability in context of seeking the
healthcare facilities, which means people with disability are disadvantaged. As per the findings,
1 in 5 people in the UK suffers impairment that is 19% of the people in UK lives with the
disability and these people are disadvantaged in lieu of the health care services (Sakellariou &
Rotarou, 2017).
There are number of high-income countries in which research is undertaken and in context of
this research, people stated that individuals with disabilities have poorer health as compared to
those people who does not have disability. It is clearly visible that poorer health of people with
the disability is avoided by the authorities and society. It can be said that these differences with
the health status of the person reflects inequality in health (The Marmot Review, 2010).
In 2002, comprehensive review was conducted in context of the UK research literature on the
health requirements of the disabled people, and it also assess the response given to the disabled
people for health services (Elliott et al, 2003). This review was updated in 2010, and as per this
updated review researcher focus on the health requirements of the disabled people in UK.
Mortality rates in lieu of the disabled peoples are high as compared to non-disabled people,
which mean people with disability expect shorter life and they always suffer with the big risk of
the early death. Expectation related to the life is increasing especially for the people suffering
from down syndrome, and some evidences are also present which suggest that people with the
disabilities approach more difficultly for health services. All the barriers in accessing the health
services also contributes in the increasing mortality rate, and as per the data mortality rates are 3
times higher in disabled people as compared to non-disability people. In lieu of young adults
mortality rates are particularly high.
Risk related to the children’s are reported by their main carer (generally by their mothers) in
context of the poor health, and as per the reports in case of disabled children’s this risk is 2.5-4.5
times more as compared to the other children’s. Almost 1 in every 7 adults stated that their
general health is not good (Emerson & Hatton, 2008).
Numbers of evidences are present which states that having a disability prevent some healthcare
services, and this happens because of the physical barriers such as ability of the person to access
the health care services, misconceptions on the part of the health care staffs, and communication
held between the medical professions and individuals are ineffective in nature.

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Poor lifestyle behaviors can result in the long term situations such as disability related to the
mental health, and also the issues associated with the physical and learning disabilities.
Current provisions:
In 2014, England introduced the care Act, and this Act was introduced for the first time as a clear
legal framework and this framework required the local authorities to provide protection through
vulnerable adults. In case adults with care and support is suspected with the risk related to the
abuse or neglect, then local authority is under obligation to conduct investigation and also take
steps to protect them. This also ensures the involvement of the other agencies such as health and
the police, and also provides independent support whenever required by the disabled person. In
2015-16, almost 925 complaints in context of the disabled victims were reported to the domestic
abuse services in context of adult safeguarding (Safe Lives, 2017).
In 2015, response given by the police and criminal justice system in lieu of domestic abuse,
strengthen by the new criminal offence of ‘controlling or coercive behavior in intimate or
familial relationships. This new offense is considered as particularly important for the disabled
victims because it might be possible that abuser is the only carer of the disabled person who
means that abuser gets more opportunity to use the coercion or control.
It might be possible that individual suffer with the mental disability make certain decisions that
will prevent the protection from the criminal justice system, and this means that they are not safe.
In this context, perpetrator presents the argument that control of the disabled person was in the
best interest of the Victim.
Generally, carers reflects themselves as caring heroes in front of the outsiders but in actual they
use this tactic to get more control over the disabled person, and this increase difficulty for the
victim to expose the abuser and seeks any help in this context. It must be noted that, number of
times abusive action of the perpetrators are disregarded by the agencies and professionals by
confusing the controlling behavior with the caring behavior.
Equality Act 2010 also provides protection to the disabled people against the abusers in context
of the domestic violence and abuse. This also ensures the support provided to the individual with
the help of the Independent Domestic Violence Advisor, and access to these advisors is equally
available to the disabled people. It is considered as legal requirement of the Act that equality
analysis is carried on by the public bodies for the purpose of taken into the account the needs of
the disabled people while planning, delivering and commissioning services. Instead of this
requirement, services provided by the authorities in context of the domestic abuse are not
accessible to the peoples with disability. As per the research, there can be inconsistency among
the local authorities handling the matters related to the domestic abuse, and services provided by
them to the disabled peoples for this purpose (Department for Work & Pensions, Office for
Disabilities, 2014). Inconsistency is also present in the engagement from the primary care

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services when the domestic abuse help is seek by the disabled people. Further, the absence
related to the disability training in context of domestic abuse support services and lack of
awareness related to disability abuse in the organizations results in lack of support and help.
Sociograms:
Views of community related to the health needs and services:
Disabled peoples are considered as the most marginalized and discriminated people as compared
to others in the society. Generally, they live in the poverty and poor housing, as they are not able
to work and access higher education, and they get very few opportunities to get participate in the
social and cultural activities. Systematic reviews across the globe have highlighted the greater
risk of violence especially in case of disabled people, by showing that they are substantially more
likely to experience the threat related to the violence, physical abuse, and sexual assault.
It must be noted that, there is no exception in domestic abuse also and as per the facts, there are
more chances that disabled people will experience physical, sexual, emotional and financial
domestic abuse in comparison of the non-disabled people. The abuse suffered by them is
generally more frequent in nature and lasts for longer period of time in comparison of the abuse
suffered by the non-disabled people. The view point of community in this context is variable in
nature as there are number of people who consider the disabled peoples as burden on society and
wants to neglect or isolate them. On the other hand,, there are number of people who believes
that disabled people are normal human beings and they also possess the right to live their life
with complete dignity. These peoples not only provide their immense support in favor of the
disabled people but also ensure that they get equal rights in the society (Bashall, 2016).
Stakeholders:
There are number of stakeholders in this context such as community and society in which we
survive and sustain. It is important to consider this stakeholder on the priority basis because this
is the only place through which change begins.
Second important stakeholder is the organization, authorities, and bodies created by law to deal
with these issues. It is also important stakeholder because they are the only one which ensure this
goal by monitoring the activities of the community.

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Action plan:
Following is the action plan which helps to community to deal with these issues and also
improve the position of the disabled people in the society:
 Disabled peoples must get the equal opportunity to get the advantages from the programs
initiated by the government, and must ensure that they treat the disabled people in equal
manner. In other words, these peoples must not exclude the people with disability from
the shelters just because of the reason that they have disability.
 Any shelters provided to the non-disabled people under any program or service must also
be provided to the people with disability.
 Community must ensure that they do not put any hurdle in the way of disabled people in
accessing their rights (NDV, n.d.).
Conclusion:
After considering the above facts, it can be said that domestic violence and abuse of people with
disability is the topic which mainly focuses on people with disability experienced domestic
abuse. Such people experience the abuse in wider form and by more number of peoples such as
intimate partners, family members, personal care assistants and health care professionals.
Peoples with disability experience inequalities in the health and major conditions of health, and
also die in younger age as compared to non-disabled people. Domestic violence is considered as
those topics in context of the disabled people which is not discussed by the society because
society is shy from this topic. There are number of evidences and data which reflect the presence
of the domestic violence with the disabled people and disproportionately higher in volume in
context of the people with disability.
References:
Bashall, R. (2016). Recognising and supporting disabled victims of domestic abuse. Available at:
http://safelives.org.uk/practice_blog/recognising-and-supporting-disabled-victims-
domesticabuse. Accessed on 5th June 2018.
Department for Work & Pensions, Office for Disabilities, (2014). Statistics: Disability facts and
figures. Department for Work & Pensions, Office for Disabilities.

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[https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-facts-and-figures/disability-facts-and-
figures]
Department for Work and Pensions, (2011). Family Resources Survey: United Kingdom 2009-
2010. London : Department for Work and Pensions.
[https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/family-resources-survey—2].
EHRC, (2017). Being disabled in Britain. Available at:
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/being-disabled-in-britain.pdf. Accessed
on 5th June 2018.
Elliott J, Hatton C & Emerson E (2003) The health of people with learning disabilities in the UK:
evidence and implications for the NHS. Journal of Integrated Care 11 9–17.
Emerson E & Hatton C (2008) Socioeconomic disadvantage, social participation and networks
and the self-rated health of English men and women with mild and moderate intellectual
disabilities: cross sectional survey. European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 18, PP, 31–7.
Flatley, J., et al. (2010). Crime in England and Wales 2009/2010: Findings from the British
Crime Survey and police recorded crime. London : Home Office.
Hague, G., Thiara, R. and Mullender, A., (2010). Disabled Women, Domestic Violence and
Social Care: The risk of isolation, vulnerability and neglect. British Journal of Social Work.
Kim, D.H., Sagar, U.N., Adams, S., and Whellan, D.J., (2009). Lifestyle Risk Factors and
Utilization of Preventive Services in Disabled Elderly Adults in the Community. Journal of
Community Health 34.5: 440-8.
NDV. Domestic Violence & People with Disabilities. Available at: http://www.thehotline.org/is-
this-abuse/domestic-violence-disabilities/. Accessed on 5th June 2018.
Office for Disability Issues: HM Government, (2011). Equality Act 2010: Guidance on matters
to be taken into accound in determining questions relating to the definition of disability. London.
[
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/sites/default/files/odi_definition_of_disability_equality_a
ct_guidance_may.pdf].
Reducing the risk, (2018). Disability. Available at:
http://www.reducingtherisk.org.uk/cms/content/disability. Accessed on 5th June 2018.
Safe lives, (2017). Disabled Survivors Too: Disabled people and domestic abuse. Available at:
http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Disabled%20Survivors%20Too
%20CORRECTED.pdf. Accessed on 5th June 2018.

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Sakellariou, D. & Rotarou, E. (2017). Access to healthcare for men and women with disabilities
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Smith, K., Colemand, K., Eder, S. & Hall, P., (2011). Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate
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Marmot, MG. Allen, J. Goldblatt, P. Boyce, T. McNeish, D. Grady, M. Geddes, I. (2010). Fair
society, healthy lives: Strategic review of health inequalities in England post-2010. The Marmot
Review: London UK.
United Nations, (2006). UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Available at:
https://www.un.org/development/desa/disabilities/convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-with-
disabilities.html. Accessed on 5th June 2018.