Chinese people make up one fifth of the world's total population, yet little is known regarding the prevalence, risk factors, and health outcomes of intimate partner violence (IPV) among this population. There is a lack of public awareness as well as research about IPV in Chinese populations. Studies of IPV prevalence in the Chinese-American population are also limited. Thus, studies of IPV in Chinese populations are needed to increase the Chinese public's recognition of this social problem and its impact on women's rights and health. In order to help identify areas of needed focus for future research, this review centers on the strengths and weaknesses of existing literature on IPV in China and compares the findings with other populations. Also, knowledge about Chinese women's position in society and family, risk factors for IPV, social barriers preventing victims from receiving help, and mental and physical outcomes of IPV are reviewed.
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