Domestic violence incidents with children witnesses: findings from Rhode Island surveillance data.
In this study we analyze factors associated with children witnessing police-reported domestic violence (DV) and determine the age distribution of children witnessing. Rhode Island Department of Health surveillance data (1996-1998) from police forms were used to assess demographic characteristics of victims, characteristics of incidents, whether children were present, and children's ages. Victim gender, age, race/ethnicity, relationship to suspect, and whether the victim was assaulted were all strong predictors of children witnessing a DV incident. Almost half (48%) of the children who witnessed DV incidents were less than 6 years old. To reach these young children, prevention and intervention programs will need to target parents and caretakers of young children and/or pediatricians.
Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA. annie_gjelsvik@brown.edu
Annie
A
Gjelsvik
Wendy
W
Verhoek-Oftedahl
Deborah N
DN
Pearlman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012237:Rhode Island / Q000453:epidemiology