ASSESSMENT FOR INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AMONG WOMEN OF COLOR IN CLINIC-BASED SETTINGS Jacquelyn C. Campbell, PhD,* Jamila K. Stockman, PhD,* Phyllis W. Sharps, PhD,* Juwarat Kadiri, BS,* Richelle Bolyard, BS,* Gloria B. Callwood, PhD,** and Doris W. Campbell, PhD,* *Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore MD;**University of the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands BACKGROUND STUDY DESIGN RESULTS In 1999, estimates from the National Crime Victimization Survey indicated that over 800,000 violent crimes were committed against persons by their current or former spouses, boyfriends or girlfriends. Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionately affects low-income and minority women . Case-Control Study Recruitment sites Baltimore, MD, USA St. Croix and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands Cases defined as women with a history of intimate partner violence (IPV) Goal: 150 recruited from each site To date, 9 eligible cases have participated (6 from Baltimore, MD and 3 from US Virgin Islands) Controls defined as women without a history of IPV Random selection of controls To date, 2 eligible controls have participated (1 per site) In-depth interviews to be conducted among 20 women in each site Type of injury reported in the past year among African American and Afro Caribbean females with a history of IPV and those without a history of IPV (n=11), Baltimore, MD and US Virgin Islands Type of Injury Cases (n=9) Controls (n=2) Broken bones 0% Facial Other bruises on the body 22.2% Eye Head with loss of consciousness Head with damage to ear Dental Broken or dislocated jaw Miscarriage or stillbirth 11.1% Intimate Partner Violence* Rates (per 1,000) by Income and Race of Female Victim, U.S., 1993-1999 Healthcare utilization patterns among African American and Afro Caribbean females with a history of IPV and those without a history of IPV (n=11), Baltimore, MD and US Virgin Islands STUDY POPULATION Women seeking care at primary care, prenatal or family planning clinics in Baltimore, MD, USA or St Croix or St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands. Eligibility criteria: African descent Ages 18 to 55 years Report of an intimate partner within the past two years Potential participants receive a flyer describing the research study upon intake registration. Resource Cases (n=9) Controls (n=2) Healthcare Emergency room or clinic Once in the past year 11.1% 0.0% More than once in the past year 22.3% 50.0% Primary care doctor or nurse 0% Community health worker Mental health counselor, therapist, or case worker Local department of health Hospitalized more than once in past year Injuries requiring surgery Injuries requiring stitches 22.2% *Includes rape, sexual assault, aggravated and simple assault. Source: National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, DC. Intimate Partner Violence* Rates (per 1,000) by Race of Female Victim, U.S., 1993-1999 DATA COLLECTION Quantitative data collected through audio computer-assisted self-interview techniques. Potential participants complete screening questionnaire to determine eligibility. Demographics Abuse Assessment Screen Women’s Experiences with Battering scale Eligible women complete 30-minute questionnaire Current and abusive partner characteristics Physical and mental health outcomes Health care utilization patterns Abuse history Sexual risk behaviors Participants receive $20 gift card and resource list of local services for abused women. CONCLUSIONS Based on the low proportion of cases experiencing injuries thus far, a sufficient amount of healthcare services were utilized by victims of intimate partner abuse. The small sample size recruited to date did not allow adequate statistical power to test the association between abuse status and healthcare utilization. Future analyses will extend these findings and incorporate preferences and experiences of assessment of IPV through qualitative interviews. *Includes rape, sexual assault, aggravated and simple assault. Source: National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, DC. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS Low-income and minority women are disadvantaged with respect to access to care, process of health care and health outcomes. This research was supported by the National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health (Grant #1P20MD002286). Characteristic Cases (n=9) Controls (n=2) Total (n=11) Mean age in years (range, 18-52) 33 (11) 31 (14) Percent employed 55.6% 50.0% 54.6% High school graduate or less 11.1% 18.2% Monthly income <$1200 77.8% 72.7% Medically insured 66.7% 100.0% Partnered or married 44.4% 0.0% 36.4% Percent with children 63.6% Poor or fair health in last month 45.5% OBJECTIVE To compare healthcare utilization patterns for African American and Afro Caribbean female victims of IPV and those who have not experienced IPV.