It is not enough to know the magnitude of a public health problem. It is important to understand what factors protect people or put them at risk for experiencing or perpetrating violence. Why are risk and protective factors useful? They help identify where prevention efforts need to be focused.
(insert in note box)Risk factors do not cause violence. The presence of a risk factor does not mean that a person will always experience violence. Victims are never responsible for the harm inflicted upon them.
Protective Factor: Characteristic that decreases the likelihood of a person becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence or provides a buffer against risk.Risk Factor: Characteristic that increases the likelihood of a person becoming a victim or perpetrator of violence.