NCJ Number
156322
Journal
Journal of the American Medical Association Volume: 273 Issue: 22 Dated: (June 14, 1995) Pages: 1763-1767
Date Published
1995
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The incidence of domestic violence among female emergency department patients is discussed.
Abstract
This article reports the results of a study to determine the incidence, one-year prevalence, and cumulative prevalence of domestic violence among female emergency department patients. A confidential written survey was conducted at five sites in the Denver, Colorado, metropolitan area. A questionnaire was offered to all adult women at three emergency departments and two associated walk-in clinics during 30 simultaneous, randomly selected 4-hour blocks in April and May 1993. A total of 833 women presented for care at the five study sites during the surveillance periods; 648 agreed to participate. Analysis of the data indicates that the incidence of acute domestic violence is not as common among women visiting an emergency department as previously reported, although the cumulative prevalence of domestic violence is strikingly high. Unfortunately, the study concluded that women who have experienced domestic violence are seldom identified by emergency department professionals. Limitations of the study are noted. Tables, references