Signs of Woman Abuse

Recognizing woman abuse can be difficult. Many women do not disclose that their partners are abusing them and many may not recognize emotional abuse. It is important to remember that often there are no outward signs of abuse.

However, "red flags" that may help identify abuse include:

• Bruises and other injuries in non-visible areas. Often the abuser will avoid inflicting injuries or bruises on visible areas, such as on the head, neck, arms, etc. This way the injuries will not be visible to anyone but the abuser and the victim.
• Common physical injuries such as trauma to the head, face, neck, breast, and abdomen.
• Frequent visits to the emergency department and/or doctor's office.
• Explanations of injuries/ bruises that don't seem probable.
• Multiple bruises in different colours and in different stages of healing suggesting that abuse is continuous.
• Bruises and abrasions in the shape of fingerprints or objects i.e. belt buckles.
• Indicators of sexual abuse: 
• miscarriages
• chronic pelvic pain
• chronic vaginal or urinary tract infection
• bruising or tearing of the vagina or anus
• female genital mutilation
• frequent pregnancies
• early hysterectomy
• infertility
• Frequent headaches, insomnia, depression, back, or neck pain. The stress of living in an abusive relationship can bring on such health effects.
• Delayed medical treatment for painful and severe injuries. In such a situation, you need to ask yourself "why would she wait so long?" Perhaps the abuser would not allow her to obtain medical attention.
• A woman's partner who hovers. He may answer questions for her, doesn't give her a chance to speak, and objects to her being examined without him being in the room.
• Inappropriate affect, minimizing. Pay particular attention to the woman's behavior. Does she minimize the severity of her injuries? Does she display inappropriate laughing, crying, anxiety, defensiveness, and/or avoid eye contact.
• Indicators of emotional and psychological abuse:
• low-self esteem
• engages in self-destructive behavior
• acute anxiety
• frequent crying
• depression

Recognizing the signs of abuse will help reduce the risk of a woman being subjected to more severe injuries, emotional and psychological harm, and even death.

Although recognizing signs of abuse is important in helping women, often there are no signs. It is essential, therefore, that health care professionals ask all women, 12 and up, about abuse, regardless of the presence or absence of signs of abuse.


Linda MacLead and Dianne Kinnon, "Taking the Next Step to Stop Woman Abuse: From Violence Prevention to Individual, Family , Community, and Societal Health." Health Canada, 2000. available on line http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/familyviolence/pdfs/nextsteps.pdf

The signs of abuse are adapted from Jean Homan, "The Top Ten Things to Know and Recognize When Caring for Adult Victims of Domestic Violence" Journal of Trauma Nursing, Vol. 5. No 1, January - March 1998 and Health Canada, A Handbook Dealing With Woman Abuse and the Criminal Criminal Justice System: Guidelines for Physicians, 1999.