title: Association between intimate partner violence and irritable bowel syndrome: a population-based study in Nicaragua.
abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disabling functional gastrointestinal disorder, which serves as a model for abdominal pain syndromes. An association between intimate partner violence and IBS has been shown among White women in the industrialized world. To determine whether this relationship transcends cultural boundaries, we conducted a population-based, cross-sectional survey in Nicaragua using the innovative Health and Demographic Surveillance System in the León province. Women who had experienced physical intimate partner violence had significantly increased risk of IBS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.35, 3.21), as did those who had experienced sexual intimate partner violence (OR = 2.85; 95% CI = 1.45, 5.59). These findings argue for intimate partner violence screening among Latina women with IBS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 590 Manning Drive, CB No. 7595, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7595, USA. sbd@unc.edu
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Becker-Dreps
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Rodolfo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cortes
authors.forename: Christopher F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Eliette
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valladares
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009527:Nicaragua; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult