Medical and sociodemographic aspects of domestic violence. Systematic evaluation of patient data from the emergency department of a maximum care hospital

BACKGROUND: Injuries due to domestic violence are a frequent occurrence in emergency departments. Although domestic violence has been well analyzed from the sociological point of view, medical data concerning patterns of injuries are rare. METHODS: Victims of domestic violence who presented at the emergency department of a maximum care hospital were included in the study. Sociodemographic data and patterns of injuries were documented. RESULTS: Of the patients who presented at the emergency room 1.4 % suffered injuries due to domestic violence and 70 % were women who had been predominantly attacked by the (ex) partner. The male victims were predominantly attacked by friends. In 88 % the head and neck were involved. Male patients were attacked with objects (as a kind of weapon) more frequently than women. A migration background was documented in 45 % of the female and 30 % of the male patients. CONCLUSION: Patterns can be easily recognized: the victims were predominantly female and were attacked by the (ex) partner. Injuries were localized to the upper part of the body. No excessive violence with life-threatening or fatal injuries was observed. Language: de