The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70552

Jacquelyn C. Campbell, PhD, RN¹, Daniel Webster, PhD², Patricia Mahoney, MA¹, Jan Roehl, PhD³, and Chris O'Sullivan, PhD⁴. (1) School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, 525 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, 410-955-2778, jcampbel@son.jhmi.edu, (2) Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 624 N. Broadway, Rm 593, Center for Gun Policy & Research, Baltimore, MD 21205, (3) Justice Research Center, 591 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite 24, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, (4) Research and Evaluation Division, Safe Horizon, 180 Livingston St., Suite 303, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Purpose: Research regarding risk assessment in battering relationships is increasing, but little attention has been paid to relationships between estimates of risk (by instrument or by victim’s perception) and history of injury. Methods: Baseline data from a prospective study of assessing risk (of reassault and lethality) using four assessment strategies (Danger Assessment-DA, KSID, DVSI, DV-Mosaic) from four different recruitment sites (shelter, law enforcement, courts, hospital ED’s) in two states (NY, CA) will be reported. 800 ethnically diverse battered women are being interviewed using the CTS2, the four instruments and other variables hypothesized as significant risk factors. All cases will be analyzed for the paper presentation. Results: Of 374 entered cases, 60% are Latina, 19% African American, 12% Anglo and 28% “mixed,” with 13% foreign born. The sample as a whole is severely abused: 25% reported prior homicide attempts and 47% reported threats of homicide. Preliminary analysis demonstrates significant relationships between serious injury from abuse (e.g. broken bones, hospitalization, permanent disability) and those with high scores on the DA and DVSI. There are also significant correlations (.19 - .59) among prior injury, risk assessment scores, victim’s perception of risk of reassault and of serious harm, and the CTS2 that are even stronger (.25 - .63) when women who are totally separated from their partners are removed from the analysis. Implications: Serious injury is an important indicator of high risk of further harm for abused women, but many women at severe risk have not (yet) incurred serious injury.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the relationship between history of injury and risk of reassault and homicide among battered women. Explore these relationships among different ethnic groups.

Keywords: Battered Women, Risk Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.