PREVALENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN AN INPATIENT FEMALE-POPULATION

Studies have evaluated the prevalence of domestic violence in populati ons of patients in emergency and primary care settings, but there are little data on patients admitted to hospitals. We undertook a study to evaluate the prevalence of domestic violence among female inpatients. Of 131 consecutive female patients between the ages of 18 and 60 admi tted to a nontrauma urban teaching hospital asked to complete a self-a dministered survey about domestic violence, 101 completed the question naire. Twenty-six percent of the respondents reported being in an abus ive relationship at one time. Two patients felt that domestic violence contributed to their current reason for admission. No respondents wer e asked about domestic violence by health care providers. Domestic vio lence is an uncommon but important precipitant to nontrauma hospital a dmissions. Physicians should query all female inpatients about domesti c assault.