Help-seeking for intimate partner violence and forced sex in South Carolina.
OBJECTIVE
In this population-based, random-digit-dial, cross-sectional survey, we assessed the lifetime victimization of intimate partner violence (IPV) and forced or coerced sex among 556 women and men in South Carolina, and the help-seeking behaviors of victims.


RESULTS
Among women, 25.3% experienced IPV (sexual, physical, or emotional violence) compared with 13.2% of men. Although women were significantly more likely to report physical or sexual IPV (17.8%) than were men (4.9%), men (8.3%) were as likely as women (7.4%) to report perceived emotional abuse without physical or sexual IPV. One half of men and women with annual incomes <$15, 000 reported IPV. Among women experiencing physical or sexual IPV, 53% sought community-based or professional services for IPV; women with higher education levels and those experiencing more severe violence were most likely to seek services.


CONCLUSIONS
These data show that IPV is common and that most victims do not receive services to address this violence.
Coker
A L
AL
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 29208, USA. ACOKER@SPH.SC.EDU
Derrick
C
C
Lumpkin
J L
JL
Aldrich
T E
TE
Oldendick
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013022:South Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000628:therapy*