title: Protection orders and intimate partner violence: an 18-month study of 150 black, Hispanic, and white women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared types and frequencies of intimate partner violence experienced by women before and after receipt of a 2-year protection order.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 150 urban English- and Spanish-speaking Black, Hispanic, and White women who qualified for a 2-year protection order against an intimate partner.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One woman committed suicide 6 weeks into the study. The remaining 149 women completed all interviews. Results showed significant reductions in threats of assault, physical assault, stalking, and worksite harassment over time among all women, regardless of receipt or nonreceipt of a protection order.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abused women who apply and qualify for a 2-year protection order, irrespective of whether or not they are granted the order, report significantly lower levels of violence during the subsequent 18 months.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Texas Woman's University, Houston, 7700, USA. jmcfarlane@twu.edu
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McFarlane
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malecha
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gist
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Batten
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018585:Battered Women / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006708:Homicide / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D033222:Judicial Role; D012307:Risk Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014504:Urban Health; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace