Intimate Partner Homicide

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is defined as a homicide committed against a current or former partner, whether the couple is married, cohabitating or companions such as a girlfriend or a boyfriend and irrespective of gender. Women are predominantly the victims of IPH, and the perpetrators are predominantly males. The World Health Organization has declared that violence against women, including intimate partner violence is a major public health problem globally and a violation of women's human rights. In this chapter the important risk factors are described. We further describe IPH followed by perpetrator suicide, the significance of alcohol and drug abuse, mental health issues, so-called mercy killings, epidemiology, homicide methods and prevention.