Intimate Partner Violence and Controlling Behaviors Experienced by Emergency Department Patients: Differences by...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Sociology

Background:

• Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue with varying prevalence across different demographics.
• Emergency departments (EDs) serve a diverse patient population, including individuals from various sexual orientations and gender identities.
• Understanding IPV prevalence within specific subpopulations, such as LGBTQ individuals, is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among adult patients in an emergency department (ED).
• To analyze IPV prevalence stratified by sexual orientation and gender identification.
• To identify disparities in IPV reporting among diverse patient groups within the ED setting.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,136 adult patients presenting to a Level I Trauma Center ED.
• Data were collected from November 2015 to November 2016.
• Multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed to determine adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for IPV by sexual orientation and gender, controlling for confounders.

Main Results:

• Overall IPV prevalence was 11.6% (132/1,136).
• LGBTQ patients reported significantly higher IPV prevalence (18.3%) compared to heterosexual patients (10.8%).
• Bisexual (21.6%) and gay men (18.5%) showed the highest IPV prevalence; females reported higher odds of IPV (aOR=1.67) after age adjustment, and gay patients (aOR=5.50) and females (aOR=2.70) had higher odds of physical or sexual IPV.

Conclusions:

• The study highlights a higher prevalence of intimate partner violence among LGBTQ patients in the ED setting.
• While initial analysis showed disparities, the relationship between LGBTQ identification and IPV diminished after controlling for covariates.
• These findings underscore the need for tailored interventions to address IPV experienced by LGBTQ individuals seeking care in emergency departments.