title: Social determinants and health effects of low and high severity intimate partner violence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to analyze whether the sociodemographic profile of battered women varies according to the level of severity of intimate partner violence (IPV), and to identify possible associations between IPV and different health problems taking into account the severity of these acts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 8,974 women (18-70 years) attending primary healthcare centers in Spain (2006-2007) was performed. A compound index was calculated based on frequency, types (physical, psychological, or both), and duration of IPV. Descriptive and multivariate procedures using logistic regression models were fitted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women affected by low severity IPV and those affected by high severity IPV were found to have a similar sociodemographic profile. However, divorced women (odds ratio [OR], 8.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.2-20.3), those without tangible support (OR, 6.6; 95% CI, 3.3-13.2), and retired women (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-6.0) were more likely to report high severity IPV. Women experiencing high severity IPV were also more likely to suffer from poor health than were those who experienced low severity IPV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of low and high severity IPV seems to be influenced by the social characteristics of the women involved and may be an important indicator for estimating health effects. This evidence may contribute to the design of more effective interventions.
authors: Alicante University, Spain. carmen.vives@ua.es
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Vives-Cases
authors: Jordi
authors: J
authors: Torrubiano-Domínguez
authors: Vicenta
authors: V
authors: Escribà-Agüir
authors: Isabel
authors: I
authors: Ruiz-Pérez
authors: Maria Isabel
authors: MI
authors: Montero-Piñar
authors: Diana
authors: D
authors: Gil-González
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D015981:Epidemiologic Factors; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012923:Social Class; D012944:Social Support; D013030:Spain; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult