Types of Abuse

Physical: this may involve threats of violence, a single blow or slap, kicking, attempted strangulation, pushing, stabbing, burning and may lead to serious incidents of multiple assaults or murder.

• Sexual: may involve sexual assault, rape, enforced pregnancy, degradation and coerced sexual activity
• Financial: can include denial/deprivation of money, not being allowed to work
• Emotional: isolation from friends, family, verbal and physical degradation, intimidation, verbal aggression, abuse of children, accusations of infidelity and using children against the mother
• Psychological: may involve intimidating verbal threats, being told what and how to dress, sleep deprivation, destructive criticism

Domestic abuse is rarely a one‑off event. Research indicates that it tends to increase with frequency and severity over time. Domestic abuse is a crime.