Men as victims of intimate partner violence; A case series

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) against men is a significant but often underreported issue worldwide. While much attention is given to women as primary victims, studies show that men also experience various forms of violence within intimate relationships. Cultural attitudes, societal norms, and gender stereotypes often prevent male victims from seeking help. In a patriarchal society like Sri Lanka, the problem is even more pronounced. There is only one study and a case report on this issue in Sri Lankan literature. In forensic practice, we encounter a small number of male victims compared to females. Method: This case series includes 11 male victims admitted to four different teaching hospitals in Sri Lanka following IPV between 2022 and 2024. A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using secondary data. Results: The victims' ages ranged from 27 to 49 years, with a mean age of 36.1. The duration of the relationships ranged from 2 to 22 years. Of the 11 men, 10 were legally married, and one was cohabiting. For 8 (73%) of them, this was the first incident of IPV. A weapon was used in almost all cases, except one, with burns (4) and blunt weapons (4) being the most common. All victims sustained injuries, including burns, abrasions, contusions, lacerations, and cuts. Regarding the severity of injuries, one victim had endangering life injuries, 6 (54.5%) had grievous injuries, and 4 (36.4%) had non-grievous injuries. Conclusion: This case series highlights the underreported yet significant issue of IPV against men in Sri Lanka. The severity of the injuries challenges traditional gender norms and emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing IPV against men. Gender-neutral, multisectoral approaches should be developed to support all victims of IPV, regardless of gender.