Victims of violence among Indigenous mothers living with dependent children.
OBJECTIVE
To identify individual and household factors associated with violence among Australian Indigenous women with dependent children.


METHODS
Univariate and multivariable analysis of data from the 2002 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey, stratified by area.


METHODS
Self-reported experience of being a victim of violence in the previous year.


RESULTS
One in four Indigenous women living with dependent children younger than 15 years reported being victims of violence in the previous year; this corresponds to an estimated 24 221 Indigenous mothers (95% CI, 21 507-26 935) nationwide. Violence was more prevalent in regional areas and cities than remote areas. In remote areas, mothers who had been removed from their natural families during childhood had nearly threefold greater odds of being victims of violence (odds ratio [OR], 2.90; 95% CI, 1.82-4.61); in non-remote areas, the odds were 72% greater (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.23-2.39). Older maternal age (> or = 45 years) was associated with lower odds of experiencing violence in both non-remote areas (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.25-0.60) and remote areas (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.30-0.70). Women with partners residing in the household faced lower odds of violence in both non-remote areas (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.41-0.72) and remote areas (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.32-0.67).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of violence against Indigenous mothers with young children is alarmingly high across remote and non-remote areas. This study identified distinctive characteristics of victims, but further research is needed to assess potential risk factors, such as history of removal from natural family.
Cripps
Kyllie
K
Melbourne School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Bennett
Catherine M
CM
Gurrin
Lyle C
LC
Studdert
David M
DM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult