From the ED to the PD: Factors associated with domestic violence reporting


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

3152.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - Board 6

Abstract #117282

Jonathon LaValley, BS¹, Beth Janello¹, Cameron Crandall, MD², Michael Bauer², and Roberto Aguero, MS¹. (1) Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico, MSC10 5560, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, (505) 272-8670, jlavalley@salud.unm.edu, (2) Center for Injury Prevention, Research, and Education, University of New Mexico, Department of Emergency Medicine, ACC 4-West, Albuquerque, NM 87131-5246

Domestic violence (DV) has both healthcare (HC) and law enforcement (LE) consequences and patients often come in contact with both systems. The degree of overlap between HC and LE is unknown. We compared police and ED records retrospectively for principal outcomes of cross identification and LE reporting. All adult ED patients with at least 1 ED visit for assault (n=186) were compared to 1,544 individuals with DV-related LE reports during the same time period (9/03 to 12/03). ED visits for DV-related injury were defined as visits where the chief complaint, narrative, or physician diagnosis was DV. Police records included violations of DV statutes in the same county for the same time period. Among 186 ED visits for assault, 47 (25%) were classified as DV-related. Of these, 22 (47%) reported to LE. Only 1% of all victims in police data were seen in the ED for DV. Patients with a history of DV (30% vs. 5%; p=0.09), assaulted with a weapon (67% vs. 12%; p=0.003), with high triage acuity (70% vs. 28%; p=0.01) were more likely to report. No differences in reporting were observed among patients' marital status, race, self-reported DV, substance abuse, pregnancy status, victim-perpetrator relationship, chief complaint, diagnosis, or discharge status. Both HC and LE see DV-related clients but the overlap is small. Assaults with weapons involving severe injuries are generally more likely to be reported to police. A better understanding of the overlap between HC and LE may improve identification and reporting of DV.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the learner in this session will be able to

1. Recognize that victims of domestic violence often come in contact with healthcare services and law enforcement but the overlap in services is not well understood.
2. Identify the differences in reporting among patients’ marital status, race, self-reported DV, substance abuse, pregnancy status, victim-perpetrator relationship, chief complaint, diagnosis, or discharge status.
3. Recognize that assaults with weapons involving severe injuries are generally more likely to be reported to police.
4. Advocate for a better understanding of the overlap between HC and LE to improve identification and reporting of DV.

Keywords: Domestic Violence, Emergency

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Posters

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA