University of Missouri professor, Tina Bloom, says women who are victims of domestic violence often seek health care, rather than support services when they are victims of domestic violence, and that’s a problem.

Bloom says health care is reactive, rather than proactive, so it doesn’t stop the abuse from happening. Resources such as counseling and hotlines can not only help women get out of their abusive relationships, but can help them find affordable and safe housing and employment.

Pregnant women are screened routinely for a number of conditions which affect a child’s health at birth. But Bloom says domestic violence is one of the leading causes of pre-term birth and low birth weight, both of which highly contribute to infant mortality.

Bloom is a professor at the Sinclair School of Nursing and is making this recommendation based on the US Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2020 campaign.