Factors associated with severity of intimate partner abuse in Mexico: results of the first National Survey of Violence Against Women.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with the severity of intimate partner abuse (IPA) in Mexico.


METHODS
Data were gathered from the National Survey of Violence Against Women (November 2002-November 2003), a nationwide study in which 18,902 women over the age of 14 participated. Subjects were recipients of national public health care services. The severity of IPA was measured using a 27-item scale. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to explore significant factors associated with partner violence.


RESULTS
One in four participants reported experiencing IPA. This model showed that younger and less educated women had a higher risk of IPA. Working out of the home (OR [odds ratio] 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99-1.72), two or more children in the household (OR 1.44, CI 1.18-1.77), alcohol consumption (OR 2.51, CI 1.63-3.90) and history of childhood abuse (OR 3.7, CI 3.03-4.52) increased the possibility of severe violence. The most important predictor of severe IPA was the partner's alcohol consumption (daily or almost daily, OR 14.7, 95% CI 13.25-16.46).


CONCLUSIONS
Awareness about the risk factors associated with IPA will help identify populations at greater risk of severe injury and could orient the health sector to direct actions toward this vulnerable population.
Avila-Burgos
Leticia
L
Centre for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Av. Universidad 655, Col. Santa Maria Ahuacatitlán, C.P. 62508, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. lavila@insp.mx
Valdez-Santiago
Rosario
R
Híjar
Martha
M
del Rio-Zolezzi
Aurora
A
Rojas-Martínez
Rosalba
R
Medina-Solís
Carlo E
CE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult