Health Care Costs of Domestic Violence Against Women - Evidence from Portugal

Abstract

Our main objective is to estimate the additional health care costs to the Portuguese National Health Service (NHS) due to domestic violence against women. The results suggest that the victims of domestic violence's additional demand for health care is valued 140 euros per annum, that is about 22% higher than health care costs of non-victims. These results match those of similar studies for the United States, taking into account of per capita differences in health care spending. A large proportion (90%) of the additional costs associated with domestic violence is supported by the NHS, where consultations and drugs are the most important contributors of such costs. Health consequences of domestic violence results from losses in quality of life and worst health status of victims and correspond to additional permanent economic costs of domestic violence episodes.

Keywords: domestic violence, health care costs

JEL Classification: I18