Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- Contributors -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- Chapter 1. Violence - a global public health problem -- Background -- The visible and the invisible -- A preventable problem -- What can a public health approach contribute? -- Defining violence -- Intentionality -- Typology of violence -- Types of violence -- The nature of violent acts -- Measuring violence and its impact -- Types of data -- Sources of data -- Problems with collecting data -- An overview of current knowledge -- Estimates of mortality -- Estimates of non-fatal violence -- The costs of violence -- Examining the roots of violence: an ecological model -- Multiple levels -- Complex linkages -- How can violence be prevented? -- Types of prevention -- Multifaceted responses -- Documenting effective responses -- Balancing public health action -- Addressing cultural norms -- Actions against violence at all levels -- Problems for national decision-makers -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 2. Youth violence -- Background -- The extent of the problem -- Youth homicide rates -- Trends in youth homicides -- Non-fatal violence -- Risk behaviours for youth violence -- The dynamics of youth violence -- How does youth violence begin? -- Situational factors -- What are the risk factors for youth violence? -- Individual factors -- Relationship factors -- Community factors -- Societal factors -- What can be done to prevent youth violence? -- Individual approaches -- Relationship approaches -- Community-based efforts -- Societal approaches -- Recommendations -- Establishing data collection systems -- More scientific research -- Developing prevention strategies -- Disseminating knowledge -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 3. Child abuse and neglect by parents and other caregivers -- Background -- How are child abuse and neglect defined? -- Cultural issues.

Types of abuse -- The extent of the problem -- Fatal abuse -- Non-fatal abuse -- What are the risk factors for child abuse and neglect? -- Factors increasing a child's vulnerability -- Caregiver and family characteristics -- Community factors -- Societal factors -- The consequences of child abuse -- Health burden -- Financial burden -- What can be done to prevent child abuse and neglect? -- Family support approaches -- Health service approaches -- Therapeutic approaches -- Legal and related remedies -- Community-based efforts -- Societal approaches -- Recommendations -- Better assessment and monitoring -- Better response systems -- Policy development -- Better data -- More research -- Documentation of effective responses -- Improved training and education for professionals -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 4. Violence by intimate partners -- Background -- The extent of the problem -- Measuring partner violence -- Partner violence and murder -- Traditional notions of male honour -- The dynamics of partner violence -- How do women respond to abuse? -- What are the risk factors for intimate partner violence? -- Individual factors -- Relationship factors -- Community factors -- Societal factors -- The consequences of intimate partner violence -- Impact on health -- Economic impact of violence -- Impact on children -- What can be done to prevent intimate partner violence? -- Support for victims -- Legal remedies and judicial reforms -- Treatment for abusers -- Health service interventions -- Community-based efforts -- Principles of good practice -- Action at all levels -- Women's involvement -- Changing institutional cultures -- A multisectoral approach -- Recommendations -- Research on intimate partner violence -- Strengthening informal sources of support -- Making common cause with other social programmes -- Investing in primary prevention.

Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 5. Abuse of the elderly -- Background -- How is elder abuse defined? -- Traditional societies -- The extent of the problem -- Domestic settings -- Institutional settings -- What are the risk factors for elder abuse? -- Individual factors -- Relationship factors -- Community and societal factors -- The consequences of elder abuse -- Domestic settings -- Institutions -- What can be done to prevent elder abuse? -- Responses at national level -- Local responses -- Recommendations -- Greater knowledge -- Stronger laws -- More effective prevention strategies -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 6. Sexual violence -- Background -- How is sexual violence defined? -- Forms and contexts of sexual violence -- The extent of the problem -- Sources of data -- Estimates of sexual violence -- Sexual violence in schools, health care settings, armed conflicts and refugee settings -- ''Customary'' forms of sexual violence -- What are the risk factors for sexual violence? -- Factors increasing women's vulnerability -- Factors increasing men's risk of committing rape -- Peer and family factors -- Community factors -- Societal factors -- The consequences of sexual violence -- Pregnancy and gynaecological complications -- Sexually transmitted diseases -- Mental health -- Suicidal behaviour -- Social ostracization -- What can be done to prevent sexual violence? -- Individual approaches -- Developmental approaches -- Health care responses -- Community-based efforts -- Legal and policy responses -- Actions to prevent other forms of sexual violence -- Recommendations -- More research -- Determining effective responses -- Greater attention to primary prevention -- Addressing sexual abuse within the health sector -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 7. Self-directed violence -- Background -- How is suicide defined?.

The extent of the problem -- Fatal suicidal behaviour -- Non-fatal suicidal behaviour and ideation -- What are the risk factors for suicidal behaviour? -- Psychiatric factors -- Biological and medical markers -- Life events as precipitating factors -- Social and environmental factors -- What can be done to prevent suicides? -- Treatment approaches -- Behavioural approaches -- Relationship approaches -- Community-based efforts -- Societal approaches -- Intervention after a suicide -- Policy responses -- Recommendations -- Better data -- Further research -- Better psychiatric treatment -- Environmental changes -- Strengthening community-based efforts -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 8. Collective violence -- Background -- How is collective violence defined? -- Forms of collective violence -- Data on collective violence -- Sources of data -- Problems with data collection -- The extent of the problem -- Casualties of conflicts -- The nature of conflicts -- What are the risk factors for collective violence? -- Political and economic factors -- Societal and community factors -- Demographic factors -- Technological factors -- The consequences of collective violence -- Impact on health -- Impact on specific populations -- Demographic impact -- Socioeconomic impact -- What can be done to prevent collective violence? -- Reducing the potential for violent conflicts -- Responses to violent conflicts -- Documentation, research and dissemination of information -- Recommendations -- Information and understanding -- Preventing violent conflicts -- Peacekeeping -- Health sector responses -- Humanitarian responses -- Conclusion -- References -- Chapter 9. The way forward: recommendations for action -- Background -- Responding to violence: what is known so far? -- Major lessons to date -- Why should the health sector be involved?.

Assigning responsibilities and priorities -- Recommendations -- Conclusion -- References -- Statistical annex -- Resources -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- Q -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- Y.