Citation

Hyman I, Forte T, Du Mont J, Romans SE, Cohen MM. Am. J. Public Health 2006; 96(4): 654-659.

Affiliation

Centre for Research in Women's Health, Sunnybrook and Women's Health Sciences Centre.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, American Public Health Association)

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.2004.046409

PMID

16507740

PMCID

PMC1470560

Abstract

Objective. We examined the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among recent (0-9 years) and nonrecent (>10 years) immigrant women in Canada to determine whether differences in IPV were associated with length of stay in Canada. Methods. We analyzed data from the 1999 General Social Survey, a national cross-sectional telephone survey. We used weighted logistic regression analysis to examine the effect of length of stay in Canada on IPV and controlled for sociocultural and other factors associated with IPV. Results. The crude prevalence of IPV was similar among recent and nonrecent immigrant women. However, after adjustment, the risk for IPV was significantly lower among recent immigrant women compared with nonrecent immigrant women. Country of origin, age, marital status, and having an activity limitation (physical/mental disability or health problem) also were associated with a higher risk for IPV. Conclusions. Our findings have important implications for both prevention and detection of IPV among immigrant women.