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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Douglas Wiebe, PhD, Violence Prevention Research Group, UCLA School of Public Health, 650 C.E. Young Drive South, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310-794-7690, wiebe@ucla.edu and Susan B. Sorenson, PhD, School of Public Health, Community Health Sciences Dept, University of California Los Angeles, Box 951772, Violence Prevention Research Group, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772.
Background. Previous research has shown that women are twice as likely to be shot and killed by their intimate partner than killed by a stranger by all other means. Little is known about the firearms kept in battered women's homes, and about how the firearms are used to harm and intimidate.
Method. In 2001 in-person interviews were conducted in English or Spanish with 417 women residing in 67emergency battered women's shelters in California. Respondents were asked 1) whether guns were kept in their home, 2) how guns were stored, and 3) how guns had been used against them.
Results. Over one-third (37.2%) of respondents reported having at least one gun in their home during the relationship with their most recent partner: 31.4% reported a handgun and 16.6% reported a long gun. About six of every ten respondents (58.1%) reported that a firearm was kept unlocked and loaded. Thirty-two (32.1) percent of respondents had been hurt, scared or intimidated by their partner with a handgun; 15.9% with a long gun.
Conclusions. Battered women reported a higher prevalence of firearms stored unlocked and loaded than have the general population. The unintended uses of firearms include coercion, threatening, and intimidation. Policies regarding access to firearms should be evaluated in light of their use in this context.
Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to
Keywords: Battered Women, Firearms
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.