Risk Factors with Intimate Partner Violence among Women Seeking Emergency Care

Abstract

Background: Identifying women at risk for violence caused by intimate partner violence is difficult in connection with visits at emergency department. Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to explore and describe risk factors of IPV reported by women in connection with seeking emergency care, Design: This study is part of a larger study using an explorative and comparative design. Method: Based upon data from a questionnaire and some demographic data, 82 women who reported to have experienced intimate partner violence answered the Danger Assessment Scale. Results: The results showed that the violence escalated in frequency and severity when a weapon such as a knife or gun was used to harm the women. When the abuser used narcotics and threatened the woman with a weapon, the risk of being injured increased. The odds for being threatened to death when the abuser was reported to use narcotics and illegal drugs was about thirteen times higher compared to the case when the abuser was not using narcotics. Other life threatening factors were discovered such as the man's capability of killing the woman. Conclusion: By using a questionnaire about the violence, healthcare personnel can identify women who are at risk of being severely injured or killed. By identifying these women, one can take action to provide for their safety. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Using the Danger Assessment instrument can facilitate health care personnel's ability at emergency departments to identify women at risk for lethal violence.

Characteristics of Intimate Partner Homicide in China: Compared With Previous Studies in Other Countries

“…This further highlights the gendered nature of IPH and the importance of examining risk factors for IPH perpetrator and victim separately for both males and females. Therefore, the current exploratory studies focus on the risk factors for IPHs and strategies to reduce and prevent this serious crime (Murphy et al, 2016; Perova & Reynolds, 2017; Pratt-Eriksson, Dahlborg-Lyckhage, & Bergbom, 2017). In China, in-depth research on the characteristics associated with the perpetrators, the victims, and the incident, which is very important in understanding IPH, is very scarce.…”