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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Anika A. H. Alvanzo, MD, MS, Department of Internal Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1200 East Broad Street, 10th Floor, P.O. Box 980306, Richmond, VA 23298-0306, 804-828-8360, aahardie@vcu.edu, Anita Boykins, DNSc, APRN, BC, School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1220 East Broad Street, P.O. Box 980567, Richmond, VA 23298, Stacey Plichta, ScD, School of Community Health Professions, Old Dominion University, College of Health Sciences, Norfolk, VA 23529, Monica Leisey, MSW, PhD(c), School of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 842027, Richmond, VA 23298, Janett Forte, MSW, LCSw, Institute for Women's Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, 9000 Stony Point Parkway, P.O. Box 980304, Richmond, VA 23298-0304, and Susan Carson, RN, FNE, Department of Emergency Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, P.O. Box 980401, Richmond, VA 23298-0401.

Purpose: The study aim is to compare victims of sexual assault and domestic violence to other victims who present for a forensic exam in an urban emergency department. Methods: Data was abstracted via retrospective chart review of patients who had a forensic exam between January 2002 and December 2004. Patients were classified into 3 groups based on documented reason for exam: sexual assault (SA), domestic violence (DV), and other (e.g. gunshot wound, assault, etc.). Data was analyzed using chi-square for categorical variables and ANOVA for continuous variables. Results: 1,376 patients had a forensic exam. One-hundred ninety-six (14.2%) were victims of SA and 189 (13.7%) were victims of DV. SA and DV victims were more likely to be female (p < .0001); 95.4% and 87.8%, respectively, when compared to other victims (28.3%). African American and White women were overrepresented (p < .001) in both cases of SA (54.1% and 38.8%) and DV (64.0% and 27.0%) when compared to those whose race was other or unknown (7.2% and 9.0%). SA victims were more likely (p < .0001) to have used alcohol or illicit drugs (48.5%) than DV (17.5%) or other victims (19.7%). Assailants in cases of SA (40.3%) and DV (21.7%) were more likely (p < .0001) to have used alcohol or illicit drugs than assailants in other cases (5.7%). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that victims of sexual assault and domestic violence differ from other victims presenting for forensic exams and that substance use plays an important role in SA and DV.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe differences in characteristics of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence when compared to other victims who present for forensic exam.
• Describe relationship between substance use in sexual assault and domestic violence.

Keywords: Forensic Populations, Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered