TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-fatal Strangulation is an Important Risk Factor for Homicide of Women
AU - Glass, Nancy
AU - Laughon, Kathryn
AU - Campbell, Jacquelyn
AU - Block, Carolyn Rebecca
AU - Hanson, Ginger
AU - Sharps, Phyllis W.
AU - Taliaferro, Ellen
PY - 2008/10
Y1 - 2008/10
N2 - The purpose of this study was to examine non-fatal strangulation by an intimate partner as a risk factor for major assault, or attempted or completed homicide of women. A case control design was used to describe non-fatal strangulation among complete homicides and attempted homicides (n = 506) and abused controls (n = 427). Interviews of proxy respondents and survivors of attempted homicides were compared with data from abused controls. Data were derived using the Danger Assessment. Non-fatal strangulation was reported in 10% of abused controls, 45% of attempted homicides, and 43% of homicides. Prior non-fatal strangulation was associated with greater than six-fold odds (odds ratio [OR] 6.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.91-11.49) of becoming an attempted homicide, and over seven-fold odds (OR 7.48, 95% CI 4.53-12.35) of becoming a completed homicide. These results show non-fatal strangulation as an important risk factor for homicide of women, underscoring the need to screen for non-fatal strangulation when assessing abused women in emergency department settings.
AB - The purpose of this study was to examine non-fatal strangulation by an intimate partner as a risk factor for major assault, or attempted or completed homicide of women. A case control design was used to describe non-fatal strangulation among complete homicides and attempted homicides (n = 506) and abused controls (n = 427). Interviews of proxy respondents and survivors of attempted homicides were compared with data from abused controls. Data were derived using the Danger Assessment. Non-fatal strangulation was reported in 10% of abused controls, 45% of attempted homicides, and 43% of homicides. Prior non-fatal strangulation was associated with greater than six-fold odds (odds ratio [OR] 6.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.91-11.49) of becoming an attempted homicide, and over seven-fold odds (OR 7.48, 95% CI 4.53-12.35) of becoming a completed homicide. These results show non-fatal strangulation as an important risk factor for homicide of women, underscoring the need to screen for non-fatal strangulation when assessing abused women in emergency department settings.
KW - intimate partner violence
KW - risk of homicide
KW - strangulation
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.02.065
DO - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2007.02.065
M3 - Article
C2 - 17961956
AN - SCOPUS:52249118129
VL - 35
SP - 329
EP - 335
JO - Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - Journal of Emergency Medicine
SN - 0736-4679
IS - 3
ER -