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Battered women: where they go for help
R A Pakieser1, P A Lenaghan, R L Muelleman
1Curriculum Resources Center, School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, USA.
Journal of Emergency Nursing
|April 16, 1998
Summary
Domestic violence is prevalent among women seeking emergency care. Family, friends, and police are primary resources, highlighting the need for accessible support where abused women seek help.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Emergency Medicine
- Sociology
Background:
- Domestic violence, specifically intimate partner abuse, remains a significant public health concern.
- Identifying victims and understanding their help-seeking behaviors is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify victims of partner abuse among women presenting to emergency departments.
- To determine where these women sought assistance during battering incidents.
- To investigate the characteristics of acute battering events.
Main Methods:
- A survey was conducted with 4,448 women aged 19-65 in 10 emergency departments across two cities.
- Exclusion criteria included language barriers, serious illness, or inability to separate participants from accompanying individuals.
Main Results:
- 37% of women reported experiencing physical abuse by a partner, 10% were in a current abusive relationship, and 4% sought emergency care due to intimate partner abuse.
- Boyfriends or ex-boyfriends were the perpetrators in 70% of cases, often using readily available items as weapons.
- The most frequently utilized resources were family and friends, followed by the police, and then emergency departments.
Conclusions:
- Intimate partner abuse is common among women visiting emergency departments, with these departments being the third most cited resource.
- Healthcare facilities, particularly emergency departments, must be equipped to identify and assist abused women.
- Accessible support systems are essential at locations where abused women seek help.