NCJ Number
52250
Journal
BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE Volume: 28 Issue: 12 Dated: (DECEMBER 1977) Pages: 400-402
Date Published
1974
Length
3 pages
Annotation
TWO GROUPS OF CASES OF WIFEBEATING TREATED IN A HOSPITAL IN ENGLAND WERE ANALYZED AS TO INCIDENCE, ASSOCIATED FACTORS, AND PATTERNS OF INJURY.
Abstract
THE PATIENTS STUDIED WERE CLASSIFIED INTO 3 GROUPS: GROUP 1--33 CASES OF WIFEBEATING WHICH WERE ALL THE CASES REFERRED FOR RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION FROM THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DURING A RANDOM PERIOD OF 77 DAYS (BETWEEN 1972 AND MARCH 1973); GROUP 2 (A)--33 CASES OF WIFEBEATING, WHICH WAS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF WOMEN AGED 16 AND OVER WHO NEEDED ADMISSION IN 1971; AND GROUP 2 (B)--22 CASES OF ASSAULT (OTHER THAN WIFE-BEATING) AMONG WOMEN AGED 16 AND OVER ADMITTED IN 1971. ALL RADIOLOGISTS' REPORTS WERE STUDIED AND, WHEREVER POSSIBLE, FILMS OBTAINED AND REASSESSED WITH REFERENCE MADE TO INDIVIDUAL CASE NOTES. CLINICALLY, THE INJURIES OCCURRING IN THE WOMEN STUDIED WERE NOTED TO INVOLVE MAINLY THE SOFT TISSUE, ESPECIALLY OF THE FACE, WITH A PAIR OF 'BLACK EYES' BEING THE MOST COMMON SINGLE INJURY. WHEN BONE INJURY WAS INVOLVED, THE PATTERN OF TRAUMA IN WIFEBEATING WAS NOT OBSERVED TO DIFFER MARKEDLY FROM THAT IN OTHER TYPES OF ASSAULT, ALTHOUGH THE INCIDENCE OF FACIAL INJURY TENDED TO BE HIGHER IN THE WIFEBEATING CASES. IT IS GENERALLY CONCLUDED THAT THE STUDY SHOWS NO DISTINCT PATTERN OF INJURY AMONG THE CASES OF WIFEBEATING OBSERVED. THE WOMEN AT RISK WERE MAINLY IN THEIR LATE TWENTIES WITH A HISTORY OF SIMILAR PREVIOUS EPISODES IN 25 PERCENT OF THE CASES. THE SAME PERCENTAGE WERE IN THERAPY FOR DEPRESSION. OF THE WOMEN, 38 PERCENT WORKED OUTSIDE THE HOME. DATA FROM THE STUDY ARE INCLUDED, ALONG WITH REFERENCES. (RCB)