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Female and male victims of violence in an urban emergency room—prevalence, sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol intake, and injury patterns

Weibliche und männliche Gewaltopfer in einer städtischen Notfallambulanz – Prävalenz, soziodemografische Merkmale, Alkoholkonsum und Verletzungsmuster

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An Erratum to this article was published on 15 June 2013

Summary

Background

Violence as well as alcohol-attributable injuries is a dominant public health issue worldwide. Victims, being injured, frequently visit emergency rooms (ER).

Methods

We interviewed all the patients seeking help in an urban emergency room reporting being victims of violent behavior over a period of 3 months (from November 2011 to January 2012).

Results

Our results showed that 1 out of 23 patients seeking help in our ER was due to forcible means. A total of 15 % of all victims reported domestic violence (75 % women) and others (90 % men) reported brawl as the reason for seeking help. Overall, 80 % of the victims were younger than 40 years. In case of domestic violence, two-third (only women) reported that they were hurt by their intimate partner. At total of 50 % were treated for head wounds and 35 % had injuries of their extremities. One-third of the patients were alcoholized. The victims of brawls mainly suffer from head injuries (69 %). Half of this patient group was under the influence of alcohol.

Conclusions

To conclude, victims of violence seek for help in emergency rooms daily. Alcohol consumption is the main factor for violent behavior. Public health programs to prevent alcohol related violence and therefore, alcohol-attributable injuries have to be implemented. Addressing the need to enhance the awareness of the health professionals has to be an imperative.

Zusammenfassung

Grundlagen

Gewalt und Verletzungen, die dem Einfluss von Alkohol zuzuschreiben sind, sind weltweit ein großes Public Health Problem. Die Opfer werden häufig in den Notaufnahmen einer Unfallchirurgie medizinisch versorgt werden.

Methodik

Wir haben über einen Zeitraum von drei Monaten (November 2011 bis Januar 2012) in einer städtischen Notaufnahme all jene PatientInnen interviewt, die angaben, dass sie Opfer von gewalttätigem Verhalten sind.

Ergebnisse

Unsere Ergebnisse haben gezeigt, dass eine/-r von 23 PatientInnen aufgrund von äußerer Gewalteinwirkung medizinische Hilfe benötigt. 15 % aller Opfer (75 % Frauen) beanspruchen Hilfe aufgrund von häuslicher Gewalt, die anderen (90 % Männer) hauptsächlich aufgrund von Raufhandel. Insgesamt waren 80 % der Opfer jünger als 40 Jahre. Im Fall von häuslicher Gewalt gaben zwei Drittel (nur Frauen) an, dass sie von ihrem Lebenspartner verletzt wurden. 50 % wurden aufgrund von Kopfverletzungen versorgt, 35 % litten an Verletzungen an den Extremitäten. Ein Drittel der PatientInnen war alkoholisiert. Die meisten Opfer von Raufhandel litten an Kopfverletzungen (69 %) und die Hälfte von ihnen war alkoholisiert.

Schlussfolgerungen

Zusammenfassend werden Opfer von Gewalt täglich in der Notaufnahme medizinisch versorgt. Public Health Programme, die Gewalt und alkoholbedingte Verletzungen verhindern, müssten implementiert werden. Das medizinische Personal für dieses Problem zu sensibilisieren ist dringend erforderlich.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University Graz, Universitaetsstrasse 6/I, 8010, Graz, Austria

    Nathalie Tatjana Burkert, Éva Rásky, Wolfgang Freidl, Franziska Großschädl & Johanna Muckenhuber

  2. Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Graz, Graz, Austria

    Renate Krassnig, Regina Gatternig & Herwig-Peter Hofer

Authors
  1. Nathalie Tatjana Burkert
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  2. Éva Rásky
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  3. Wolfgang Freidl
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Correspondence to Nathalie Tatjana Burkert.

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Burkert, N., Rásky, É., Freidl, W. et al. Female and male victims of violence in an urban emergency room—prevalence, sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol intake, and injury patterns. Wien Klin Wochenschr 125, 134–138 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-013-0329-z

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