Risk factors for recent domestic physical assault in patients presenting to the emergency department

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for physical or sexual assault as a result of domestic violence in patients presenting to the ED. METHODS: Backward prevalence study of two urban teaching hospital emergency departments measuring the 1-year period prevalence, acute incidence of ED presentation and risk factors of domestic physical assault. RESULTS: Of the 1326 patients (62% female) completing the study, 115 (9% CI 7%, 10%) reported assault by a partner or ex-partner within the preceding 12 months and 31 (2% CI 1.6%, 2.3%) reported domestic physical assault as the cause of their presentation. Risk factors for recent domestic physical assault included female gender (prevalence rate ratio, (PRR) 1.5 CI 1.0 2.2), age 17 to < 25 years (PRR 6.8 CI 1.7 27.7) or 25 to < 35 years (PRR 5.7 CI 1.4 23.0), past presentation to an ED for assault (PRR 2.5 CI 1.7 3.7) and a past history of child abuse (PRR 2.2 CI 1.5 3.1). There was no association between health service utilization or mental illness and the reporting of recent domestic physical assault. CONCLUSION: The study characterizes ED patients at high risk of injury from domestic violence.