Exploring Relationships Between Blood Alcohol Concentration and Female Homicides in 16 States

Alcohol is an important predictor of injury and death. It plays a role in almost every third injury event in females. Little is known of the prevalence of alcohol-related violent deaths in the United States involving women. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in women and female homicide. In addition, this study determined whether the association between female homicides and BAC was modified by location and individual characteristics of the victim. This study was based on secondary analyses of the National Violent Death Reporting System of alcohol-related death among 2,412 women aged 21 years and older in 16 states. A cross-sectional methodology was used to target the adult female victims of homicide who had a positive BAC. The results of the multivariate statistical analyses showed no association between intoxication and homicide among adult women aged 21 years or older in 16 states. There was a statistically significant association between intoxication and homicide modified by age, race/ethnicity, marital status, and location. Women who were intoxicated and Non-Hispanic White, 35-49 years, less educated, and single were at a higher risk for homicide and 78% of homicides occurred in a home/apartment. Positive social change may occur when state and local agencies use these results to develop and implement policy and target prevention strategies to women who consume alcohol to reduce future alcohol-related homicides against women.