Peter F. Cronholm, MD, Department of Family Practice and Community Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce Steet, 2 Gates Building, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4383 and Douglas J. Wiebe, PhD, Department of Biostatistics Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 933 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021, (215) 746-0149, dwiebe@cceb.med.upenn.edu.

Purpose: To assess whether the body location of a female patient’s injury may indicate intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: 15-49 year old females treated in U.S. Emergency Departments for assault-related trauma were identified using National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (2000-01) data. Patients assaulted by an intimate partner were compared with patients assaulted by another person by computing the relative rate (IDR) of injury at 22 body sites. Results: We identified 2931 IPV victims and 2901 victims of non-IPV assaults for inclusion in the study. The most common injury sites among both groups were the face (23.1%, 17.6% respectively) and head (13.6%, 11.4% respectively). IPV victims were more likely to have been struck (83.9% vs. 77.3%) or have suffered a fall (4.6% vs. 3.8%), but were less likely to have been sexually assaulted (3.4% vs. 9.8%). Compared to non-IPV victims, IPV victims exhibited a significantly (p<0.05) higher rate of injury to certain sites including the mouth (IDR=1.8), face (IDR=1.3), head (IDR=1.2) and lower leg (IDR=2.3) and a significantly lower rate of injury to other sites including the pubic region (IDR=0.2), hand (IDR=0.5), finger (IDR=0.6) and lower arm (IDR=0.6). Conclusions: ED clinicians treat certain injury locations significantly more commonly among victims of IPV assaults than among victims of non-IPV assaults. Identifying high-risk injuries may assist clinicians to better identify and provide services for victims of IPV.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Identify challenges to screening female emergency department patients for intimate partner violence.
• List parts of the body associated disproportionately with severe injuries due to intimate partner violence (IPV).
• Discuss implications for how IPV screening protocols are designed.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Women's Health

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.