Markers for domestic violence in women.

Abstract

Objective-To determine injury patterns and characteristics specific to domestic violence in women who present to the accident and emergency (A&E) department. Design-A retrospective case note review of all female assaults over a one year period. The subjects were women who disclosed that their injuries were due to assaults by either a current or a previous male partner. Identification of markers would be important in alerting clinicians to the possibility of domestic violence, as it is known that many cases are not disclosed,4 5 9 and that attacks tend to be repeated with both increasing frequency and severity.9 [15][16][17] The study examines female assaults, comparing assaults due to domestic violence with a control group of women who were not injured by domestic violence. MethodsOne year of the A&E department medical and nursing case notes were hand searched by one author (RLS) to identify all female assaults. These were classified into two groups: disclosed domestic violence defined as "an assault by a current or previous male partner" and a control group (assault by a non-family member). All assaults by other relatives/family members were excluded. Other groups were excluded if the assailant had not been documented or was unknown. Patient and control groups were compared for injury and referral patterns. There were no directives to doctors during the study year to look for a history of domestic violence.The A&E department is in an urban setting and does not see patients under the age of 13. Statistical analysis was performed with Epi-Info using a X2 test.

Oral injuries in victims involving intimate partner violence

“…Another important difference concerns the incidence of fractures. Although described as a fairly common injury [22,28], no facial fractures were found in this study; Bach et al [22] found facial fractures in 30% of DV victims, but Saddki et al [24], however, described results similar to ours, stating that there were no reported fractures, and only one case of joint dislocation.…”

A retrospective audit of the extent and nature of domestic violence cases identified over a three year period in the two district command units of the police service of Northern Ireland

“…30,31 This study also demonstrated a wide range of injuries and patterns of injuries, the majority being scratches and bruising to the head and arms which compares to other cited reports from within Northern Ireland. [32][33][34] McWilliams and Spence, in a study on the civil and criminal justice response to domestic violence in Northern Ireland, quoted that on average one woman is seriously assaulted with AOABH, GBH, or attempted murder by her male partner every day. 35 This may reflect the stronger force of male aggressors on female victims and therefore the occurrence of more serious injuries.…”

Seksuell tvang i ekteskap eller samboerforhold henger sammen med annen type partnervold

“…Også i Norge er det funnet forbindelser mellom seksuell vold og alvorlig vold, for eksempel vold mot en gravid mage (14). Sammenhenger mellom ulike former for partnervold mot kvinner og helseproblemer er etter hvert grundig dokumentert, både nasjonalt og internasjonalt (4,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)15).…”

“…Signifikante markører for partnervold er akutte skader i hodet, nakken og ansiktet hos kvinner som oppsøker legevakt eller akuttmottak, som angir at ingen var vitner til skaden (11). Eksempler på seksuell vold i ekteskap eller samboerforhold som avdekkes blant kvinner utsatt for partnervold, er å bli tvunget til vaginalt eller analt samleie, slått eller brent under samleie, påført objekter i vagina og anus, eller i sjeldne tilfeller tvunget til sex med andre, også dyr (12).…”