Domestic violence. Incidence and prevalence in a northern emergency department.

OBJECTIVE To examine the incidence and prevalence of domestic violence (DV) against women presenting to emergency departments.

DESIGN Prospective cohort study to determine health status and exposure to DV.

SETTING Hospital emergency department in urban northern Canada.

PARTICIPANTS Random sample of women older than 16 presenting to the emergency department for any reason.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Demographic variables, exposure to DV.

RESULTS Of 1800 potential subjects, 577 (32%) did not fit inclusion criteria. Of the remaining 1223, 983 (80%) agreed to participate. Mean age was 41, 135 of participants (14%) were aboriginal, and 546 (56%) were married. Overall, 725 (74%) had current partners. Incidence of DV resulting in emergency department presentation on the day of assessment was 2%. Of women with partners, 66 (9%) had previously been threatened or injured by those partners. Lifetime prevalence of DV was 51%; physical DV was experienced by 40%. One-year prevalence was 26%.

CONCLUSION Incidence of DV was lower than expected; prevalence of DV was high.