191518 Health outcomes in women with physical and sexual intimate partner violence exposure

Wednesday, October 29, 2008: 9:10 AM

Amy E. Bonomi, PhD, MPH , Human Development & Family Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Melissa L. Anderson, MS , Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, WA
Frederick Rivara, MD MPH , Department of Pediatrics, Epidemiology, Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Robert S. Thompson, MD , Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, WA
To examine health in women with exposure to physical intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual IPV or sexual and physical IPV and the added health burden of sexual IPV. Randomly sampled insured women (2876) completed a telephone interview to assess lifetime exposure to physical IPV only, sexual IPV only, or physical and sexual IPV (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) and current health (SF-36, Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression, Presence of Symptoms surveys). We compared the health of women with physical IPV, sexual IPV, or both physical and sexual IPV with the health of non-abused women. We then compared the health of women with sexual IPV only or physical and sexual IPV with the health of women with physical IPV only. Compared to non-abused women, adverse health was observed for women with sexual IPV exposure (with or without physical IPV). SF-36 scores ranged from 4.28 to 6.22 points lower for women with sexual IPV, 4.95 to 5.81 points lower for women with physical and sexual IPV, and 2.41 to 2.87 points lower for women with physical IPV. Prevalence ratios (PR) for depressive and severe depressive symptoms were: sexual IPV (2.45 and 3.06), sexual and physical IPV (2.31 and 2.93), and physical IPV (1.64 and 1.90). Women with physical and sexual IPV had more symptoms, and compromised physical health. Compared to women with physical IPV only, women with sexual IPV or physical and sexual IPV had lower SF-36 scores and increased depression (49%-61% and 41%-54% increase). Sexual IPV exposure was associated with adverse health.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to discuss health outcomes of women who experience physical and sexual intimate partner violence.

Keywords: Violence, Women's Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: researcher
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.