Violence to women by their spouses. a prospective study
Jørgensen, J.P.; Jørgensen, A.; Jensen, K.G.; Abildgård, J.; Andersen, H.J.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 143(36): 2321-2324
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 7303247 Document Number: 170615
A prospective account was undertaken during a period of 4 mo. from Nov. 1, 1980 to Feb. 28, 1981 and all cases of violence to women by their consorts were registered in the casualty departments. Police authorities registered all cases of family quarrels in which women were exposed to violence. Twenty-five sought advice in the casualty departments and 29 women sought help from the police alone. The greater part of the violence occurred between 1500-2400 h with a maximum between 1800-2100 h. Of the women, 77%, of the men, 71% had consumed alcohol at the time of the violent episode. The mechanisms and types of trauma were investigated. The violence was almost exclusively committed with the hands. The lesions were mainly trivial in nature. The more severe the lesions were, the later help was sought. Approximately 2/3 of the cases were repetitions. Review of previous Danish materials reveals that violence to women is considerably more extensive in Aalborg than in districts such as Glostrup and Odense.