Risk factors for femicide in abusive relationships: results from a multisite case control study.
OBJECTIVE
This 11-city study sought to identify risk factors for femicide in abusive relationships.


METHODS
Proxies of 220 intimate partner femicide victims identified from police or medical examiner records were interviewed, along with 343 abused control women.


RESULTS
Preincident risk factors associated in multivariate analyses with increased risk of intimate partner femicide included perpetrator's access to a gun and previous threat with a weapon, perpetrator's stepchild in the home, and estrangement, especially from a controlling partner. Never living together and prior domestic violence arrest were associated with lowered risks. Significant incident factors included the victim having left for another partner and the perpetrator's use of a gun. Other significant bivariate-level risks included stalking, forced sex, and abuse during pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
There are identifiable risk factors for intimate partner femicides.
Campbell
Jacquelyn C
JC
School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205-2110, USA. jcampbell@son.jhmi.edu
Webster
Daniel
D
Koziol-McLain
Jane
J
Block
Carolyn
C
Campbell
Doris
D
Curry
Mary Ann
MA
Gary
Faye
F
Glass
Nancy
N
McFarlane
Judith
J
Sachs
Carolyn
C
Sharps
Phyllis
P
Ulrich
Yvonne
Y
Wilt
Susan A
SA
Manganello
Jennifer
J
Xu
Xiao
X
Schollenberger
Janet
J
Frye
Victoria
V
Laughon
Kathryn
K
D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*