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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
CK Shapiro-Mendoza, MPH1, BJ Selwyn, ScD1, D Caudill, DrPH2, V Kennedy, PhD3, L Freimanis-Hance, MD, PhD4, and PG Bray, PhD5. (1) Epidemiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center Houston, School of Public Health, 1200 Hermann Pressler, RAS E625, Houston, TX 77030, 713-500-9271, cshapiro@sph.uth.tmc.edu, (2) Consultant, 2200 Dublin Rd, Oklahoma City, OK 73120, (3) Center for Excellence in Public Health Practice, University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health, PO Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225, (4) University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston, 7900 Cambridge, Ap. 12-1F, Houston, TX 77054, (5) Community Health Assessment, St. Luke's Episcopal Health Charities, 6221 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030
Objectives and methods. A cross-sectional survey determined the prevalence of physical abuse by a partner among mothers residing in a mostly Hispanic, inner-city community in Houston, Texas during December 2000. Additionally, the frequency of exposure to maternal domestic violence was compared among children 18 years and younger with and without selected health outcomes. Participatory action research, a qualitative method, provided additional illuminative and confirmatory results, and was the impetus for the epidemiological survey. Participants included 218 mothers who answered questions about their 459 children. Mothers were interviewed about socio-demographic factors, their exposure to domestic violence, and about their children’s physical and emotional well-being. The authors will report odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals from multivariate logistic regression.
Results. The prevalence of domestic violence was 20.0%. U.S. estimates range between 10.5 and 17.3 percent for Hispanics. Analysis shows that children exposed to domestic violence had excess odds of poorer emotional overall health (OR, 2.75;CI, 1.33-5.72), unhappiness (OR, 5.32;CI, 2.59-10.93), problems at home (OR, 2.83;CI, 1.46-5.47), problems with friends (OR, 5.57;CI, 2.00-15.48), and problems with school (OR, 3.84;CI, 1.83-8.06). Exposure to domestic violence was not associated with physical health problems.
Conclusions. The prevalence of physical abuse among mothers residing in a mostly Hispanic, Houston inner-city neighborhood is high compared to national estimates. Children of abused mothers are more likely to suffer poorer mental and emotional health effects among children. Prevention efforts should be aimed at this underserved and vulnerable population of women and children.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Child Health, Domestic Violence
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.