What can be done to prevent the injury?

Society needs to be educated about what physical abuse is and how it can be identified and stopped. Developing trust within organizations and communities is important so that people feel comfortable talking about abuse or potential abuse. Prevention also means taking an active role in promoting social change and making efforts to influence legislative reforms.

The best way to prevent abuse is to teach people how to solve problems without using violence. Teenagers and young adults should be taught that it's never OK to abuse a partner. Parents and healthcare providers should provide teens with information and statistics about dating violence. The teens should be given specific information about behaviors that are part of dating violence. They should be encouraged to discuss any issues or concerns with a parent or other appropriate adult.

Since health concerns such as cocaine use are associated with a higher risk for physical abuse, healthcare providers should address dating violence when treating people with these health concerns. Careful screening can help identify at-risk individuals and provide the opportunity to stop the abuse cycle.

Resources are available to abuse victims within their communities. Books and articles about child abuse are readily available. Supporting and promoting training and education on recognizing and addressing physical abuse are other preventive measures.

Friends, neighbors, family members, and healthcare providers need to ask directly about signs of possible abuse. For instance, if a person has unexplained bruising, ask him or her how it happened. The person may not say how it happened, but his or her reaction may provide more information about the situation. Asking the right questions can sometimes make the victim feel less isolated. Showing concern lets the victim know that there is someone to turn to if he or she needs help.