Repeat victimization of victims of violence - A retrospective study from ahospital emergency department for the period 1971-1995

This 25-year retrospective study is about 9,301 victims of assault who atte nded the emergency unit of a hospital for treatment of their injuries. Of t hose victims, 11.3% were repeat victims of violence. From 1971 to 1995 an i ncrease was observed in both the one-time and the repeat victims of violenc e. Of the repeatedly victimized patients, 75.2% fell in the 15- to 34-year- old age group. Male predominance (82%) was found in repeat victimization. R ecidivist victims of assault were classified into light, moderate, and heav y recidivist (two times, three to four times, and five or more times recidi vist, respectively). The probability of becoming a victim of accidents (i.e ., other than violence) showed a sharp increase from the light to moderate, and from the moderate to heavy, category of recidivist victim of violence.