Summary
Medical attention for domestic violence in a regional hospital: sociodemographic characteristics of the victims and aggressors
Fernández-Romero E, Espino Pérez R, Aguilera Peña M, Pablo Vázquez MD, Galán Doval CJ, Recio Ramírez JM
Affiliation of the authors
Emergency Department of the Line of Critical Processes and Emergencies of the Hospital de Montilla Córdoba), Spain. Empresa Pública Hospital Alto Guadalquivir, Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía.
DOI
Quote
Fernández-Romero E, Espino Pérez R, Aguilera Peña M, Pablo Vázquez MD, Galán Doval CJ, Recio Ramírez JM. Medical attention for domestic violence in a regional hospital: sociodemographic characteristics of the victims and aggressors. Emergencias. 2008;20:164-72
Summary
Aim: The primary objective of the study was to assess the sociodemographic characteristics
of victims and aggressors, the type of abuse and the defining circumstances of
mistreatment in domestic violence cases attended in the Emergency Department a
county hospital. The second aim was to determine gender-related differences between
the victim and aggressor.
Methods: Prospective, observational study of domestic violence victims who presented
at the hospital in the period from March 15, 2003 to March 14, 2004. While being
atended every patient completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and a medical-legal
and clinical performance evaluation form. Statistical analysis of differential variables
based an the gender of the victim and aggressor was performed.
Results: A total of 58 persons were included, 43 (74%) reporting couple-related violence
(39 against women), 2 (3%) ill-treatment to the elderly and 5 (9%) mistreatment
of minors under 18 years of age. The mean age of the subjects was 35 ± 14 years,
82.6% were female, predominantly married (48%), with low education (67%) and
poor economic status. The aggressor was most frequently a 39-12 year old male
(90%), who was the partner of the victim (74%) with a prolonged relationship (60%,
> 6 years). The most frequent aggression was isolated physical injury (55%), previous
aggressions had occurred in 65% and associated death threats in 36%. The aggressor
more often had a more stable job (41%) than to the victim (19%; p < 0.05). Primary or lower education was more common (78%) in male aggressors compared to female agressors (32%; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Violence against the women within the couple is the most frequent form of mistreatment. Commonly the aggressor is a middle-aged man, who had been cohabiting for a long time with the victim. The prevalence of continued mistreatment in the present study was very high.