[Intimate partner violence. A survey conducted in the primary care setting].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in a sample of women attending primary care centers for any reason and to analyze the characteristics of this violence.


METHODS
A cross sectional study was performed in 23 primary care centers in three regions of Spain (Andalusia, Madrid and Valencia). The sample included 1,402 randomly selected adult women aged between 18 and 65 years attending these centers. Among the variables collected through a self-administered questionnaire were the existence of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, and its timing, duration, and frequency.


RESULTS
Overall, 32% had experienced some type of IPV. By type, 7% had experienced both physical and emotional IPV, 14% had experienced emotional IPV, 3% had experienced emotional and sexual IPV, and 6% had suffered all 3 types of IPV. Among the latter, 52% had experienced abuse for more than 5 years. Women who experienced abuse in a previous relationship had a greater probability of being abused by a new intimate partner (OR = 3.30; 95% CI, 2.10-5.18).


CONCLUSIONS
These results show the scale of IPV in Spain. Health professionals play an important role in IPV, as they are in a privileged position to tackle this serious public health problem.
Ruiz-Pérez
Isabel
I
Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18080 Granada, España. isabel.ruiz.easp@juntadeandalucia.es
Plazaola-Castaño
Juncal
J
Blanco-Prieto
Pilar
P
González-Barranco
Juana María
JM
Ayuso-Martín
Pilar
P
Montero-Piñar
María Isabel
MI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires