Domestic violence takes different forms in the family. It can be sexual, physical, emotional, financial, or psychological. Family abuse affects many people in the society regardless of their age, culture, gender, religion, or race (Michigan Incident Crime Reporting, 2007). Nurses and caregivers should report any issue related to home abuse. Such professionals “encounter various barriers when reporting different forms of domestic violence” (Smith, Rainey, Smith, Alamares, & Grogg, 2008, p. 11).
Domestic violence statistics in Calhoun County
Domestic violence is a major challenge affecting my society. The Michigan Police Department reported 2,080 family offenses in Calhoun County (Michigan Incident Crime Reporting, 2007). According to the statistics, most of the affected groups were African Americans, women, and other minorities. Men committed most of the offenses (Michigan Incident Crime Reporting, 2007). Studies indicate how children and other minority groups in the society continue to face different types of violence (Smith et al., 2008). These statistics are quite astonishing. The number of unreported cases must also be high. Most of the nurses are unable to report most of these abuses because of the barriers existing in the society. The society should also be trained in order to understand and deal with the dangers of family abuse (Smith et al., 2008). This strategy will reduce the level of abuses and conflicts in the society.
Barriers encountered when identifying and addressing domestic violence
The first barrier when addressing family violence is my personal attitude towards the problem. The society does not encourage its people to identify and address the issue of family abuse (Smith et al., 2008). Many caregivers assume that family brutality is a societal norm. Some people do not understand the meaning of family brutality. Such people consider physical and sexual abuses as the only forms of violence. This explains why many people do not report any financial, emotional, or psychological abuses in their families (Smith et al., 2008). Some social myths discourage people from dealing with domestic violence. Such myths explain why many people do not to report most of these abuses. According to some people, domestic brutality happens to minority groups such as children, albinos, and females (Michigan Incident Crime Reporting, 2007). Many people only address some problems such as drug abuse, mental illness, and alcohol instead of focusing on family violence. Many people treat such abuses as home problems (Smith et al., 2008). This explains why it is hard for nurses to identify and address the problem.
The Cycle of Abuse makes it impossible for people to report their experiences and hardships. Many people lack awareness due to lack of proper training. This explains why I encounter the above challenges as a nurse. The society also lacks mandatory reporting laws to help professionals and nurses. The violence wheel also explains why some people continue to abuse their relatives and spouses. Most of the existing socio-cultural norms and myths encourage family abuse (Smith et al., 2008). Every caregiver should understand these issues in order to deal with this problem successfully.
The website also presents new facts and information about marital abuse. This explains why it has been impossible for caregivers and nurses to support most of the victims of family violence (Smith et al., 2008). I will use this information to provide the best support to my patients. This approach will play a major role towards dealing with family abuse in my society.
Reference List
Michigan Incident Crime Reporting. (2007). Domestic Violence: Victim and Offender Information, United States, 2007, (Catalogue No. 1.0). Web.
Smith, J., Rainey, S., Smith, K., Alamares, C., & Grogg, D. (2008). Barriers to the Mandatory Reporting of Domestic Violence Encountered by Nursing Professionals. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 15(1), 9-11.