Intimate partner violence perpetration among men and emergency department use.
BACKGROUND
Intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and emergency department (ED) use share common risk factors, such as risk-taking behaviors, but little is known about the relationship between IPV perpetration and ED use or the effect of risk-taking on this relationship.


OBJECTIVE
This study examined the relationship between IPV perpetration, risk-taking, and ED utilization among men in the general U.S. population.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, focusing on non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Hispanic male respondents 18-49 years of age cohabiting with a spouse or partner. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).


RESULTS
Approximately 38% of IPV perpetrators reported ED use in the previous year, compared to 24% of non-perpetrators. Several risk-taking factors (e.g., perception of risk-taking, transportation-related risk-taking, and aggression-related arrest), alcohol and illicit drug use and abuse or dependence, and serious mental illness were positively associated with IPV perpetration. Men reporting IPV were 1.5 times (AOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.01-2.13) more likely than non-perpetrators to utilize the ED, after taking all factors into account. Drug abuse or dependence, transportation-related risk behaviors, and serious mental illness also were independently associated with ED use.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that men who perpetrate IPV are more likely than non-perpetrators to use ED services. These findings suggest that screening for IPV, as well as risk-taking and mental illness among men accessing ED services may increase opportunities for intervention and referral.
Lipsky
Sherry
S
Division of Epidemiology and Disease Control, University of Texas School of Public Health, Dallas Regional Campus, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Caetano
Raul
R
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult