Prevalence of rural intimate partner violence in 16 US states, 2005.
BACKGROUND
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem that affects people across the entire social spectrum. However, no previous population-based public health studies have examined the prevalence of IPV in rural areas of the United States. Research on IPV in rural areas is especially important given that there are relatively fewer resources available in rural areas for the prevention of IPV.


METHODS
In 2005, over 25,000 rural residents in 16 states completed the first-ever IPV module within the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). The BRFSS is a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored annual random-digit-dialed telephone survey. The BRFSS provides surveillance of health behaviors and health risks among the non-institutionalized adult population of the United States and several US territories.


RESULTS
Overall, 26.7% of rural women and 15.5% of rural men reported some form of lifetime IPV victimization, similar to the prevalence found among men and women in non-rural areas. Within several states, those living in rural areas evidenced significantly higher lifetime IPV prevalence than those in non-rural areas.


CONCLUSIONS
IPV is a significant public health problem in rural areas, affecting a similar portion of the population as in non-rural areas. More research is needed to examine how the experience of IPV is different for rural and non-rural residents.
Breiding
Matthew J
MJ
Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, Mailstop F-64, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. mbreiding@cdc.gov
Ziembroski
Jessica S
JS
Black
Michele C
MC
D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012424:Rural Population; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology