According to a study by the Allstate Foundation, domestic violence is a common problem among Hispanic women.

The survey, titled "Silent Weapon: Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse" according to a press release, examined Hispanic women from around the country. It found that 64 percent of participants had known a victim of domestic violence. Thirty percent of participants had personally been a victim of domestic violence.

Out of the women surveyed, 88 percent named physical abuse as a reason for ending a relationship. Meanwhile, 39 percent saw financial abuse as a reason to leave a relationship, making it the least likely reason for Hispanics to leave an abusive relationship, after physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

"Financial abuse is the No.1 reason why victims stay in abusive relationships and our data shows that less than half of Hispanic women say they have taken steps to protect themselves from financial abuse," Patricia Garza, director of strategic philanthropy at Allstate Foundation, said.

In an interview with EFE, Garza said that financial abuse happens in 98 percent of all domestic violence cases. The abuse can include the victim having to constantly alert their partner about their location and commonplace purchases. Abusers also open credit cards in the victim's name, harming their credit, and/or harass them at work, costing them their job.

"Domestic violence and financial abuse often go hand in hand, but almost eight out of every 10 Americans have never heard it said that financial abuse is an aspect of domestic violence," she continued.

The study also found that Hispanic parents talk to their children about domestic violence more frequently than white non-Hispanic parents at 58 percent versus 43 percent respectively, the release reports. Almost 7 in 10 Hispanic women with children at least 16 years of age have spoken to their children about the issue.

"This is a problem that afflicts Hispanics, and survivors have to know that they're not alone," Garza told EFE.

Allstate Foundation is currently raising money to financially empower domestic violence victims through its Purple Purse Challenge.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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