Violence against women: analysis of emergency department presentations

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological features of women exposed to physical force and provide data in order to develop preventing strategies.

Materials and Methods: The charts of female patients admitted to the emergency department who were composed a forensic report between 2004 and 2006 were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: A total of 182 female patients were found to be eligible for the study. The mean age of the study cases was 31.7 +/- 12.2. Partners proceeded violence in one third of patients (33%, n=60). 10 (62.5%) of 16 patients over 65 years old were attacked by unfamiliar. Blunt trauma was the most seen injury (70.9%, n=129). The most traumatized regions were head and upper extremities, respectively (28.6%, n=52; 22.5%, n=41; respectively). Fourteen cases (7.7%) were assigned to have potentially life threatening injuries and four (2.2%) dead (three of them were gunshot injuries and one was stabbing).

Conclusion: Although the violence against women is high in our region, emergency department presentations are low. Strategies for preventing violence should develop by analyzing injury patterns and women under risk.