NCJ Number
215521
Journal
Violence Against Women: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal Volume: 12 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2006 Pages: 823-837
Date Published
September 2006
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study examined whether women with disabilities had an elevated risk of being physically and sexually assaulted within the past year in North Carolina.
Abstract
Results indicated that in comparison to their nondisabled peers, women with disabilities in North Carolina were 4 times more likely to experience a sexual assault in the past year. Women with disabilities, however, were not more likely than women without disabilities to experience a physical assault alone within the past year. The disabled women’s current and ex-intimate partners were the most common perpetrators of the violence against them. Given the fact that women with disabilities are more likely to seek regular medical attention, health care providers are urged to screen these patients for physical and sexual violence and to ensure that identified victims are provided the appropriate help and followup care. Data on 5,326 women were drawn from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, which is an ongoing random-digit dial household survey of adults that focuses on health and sociodemographic information. Data analysis involved the use of bivariate and multivariate analyses. Limitations of the study are identified and include its use of a telephone survey, which can only reach women living in households with telephones. Tables, references