Risk factors for recent domestic physical assault in patients presenting to the emergency department.
OBJECTIVE
To identify risk factors for physical or sexual assault as a result of domestic violence in patients presenting to the ED.


METHODS
Backward prevalence study of two urban teaching hospital emergency departments measuring the 1-year period prevalence, acute incidence of ED presentation and risk factors of domestic physical assault.


RESULTS
Of the 1326 patients (62% female) completing the study, 115 (9% CI 7%, 10%) reported assault by a partner or ex-partner within the preceding 12 months and 31 (2% CI 1.6%, 2.3%) reported domestic physical assault as the cause of their presentation. Risk factors for recent domestic physical assault included female gender (prevalence rate ratio, (PRR) 1.5 CI 1.0 2.2), age 17 to < 25 years (PRR 6.8 CI 1.7 27.7) or 25 to < 35 years (PRR 5.7 CI 1.4 23.0), past presentation to an ED for assault (PRR 2.5 CI 1.7 3.7) and a past history of child abuse (PRR 2.2 CI 1.5 3.1). There was no association between health service utilization or mental illness and the reporting of recent domestic physical assault.


CONCLUSIONS
The study characterizes ED patients at high risk of injury from domestic violence.
Stuart
Peter
P
Department of Emergency Medicine, Lyell McEwin Health Service, Elizabeth Vale, South Australia, Australia. Peter.Stuart@nwahs.sa.gov.au
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013021:South Australia / Q000453:epidemiology