This study surveyed medical or injured patients, both men and women, in an inner city emergency department to examine the rates and correlates of intimate partner violence.
Findings from this study showed that approximately 9 percent of men and women presenting to the emergency department for any reason (medical or injured) were involved in intimate partner violence in the prior year. These rates were consistent with data from community samples. Women were significantly more likely to report intimate partner violence than men. When examining participants' substance use patterns, participants who reported using both alcohol and cocaine were most likely to report intimate partner violence. The role of the emergency department in the detection of intimate partner violence has grown over the past 10 to 15 years. This study examined past year history of intimate partner violence among a comprehensive sample of men and women presenting to an urban emergency department (for injury or medical complaints) over a 2-year period. The study seeks to determine the rates and correlates of past year intimate partner violence among patients in an inner city emergency department and unique correlates of victimization and aggression. Tables and references