Citation

Burkert NT, Rásky E, Freidl W, Großschädl F, Muckenhuber J, Krassnig R, Gatternig R, Hofer HP. Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 2013; 125(5-6): 134-138.

Vernacular Title

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

Affiliation

Institute of Social Medicine and Epidemiology, Medical University Graz, Universitaetsstrasse 6/I, 8010, Graz, Austria, nathalie.burkert@medunigraz.at.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s00508-013-0329-z

PMID

23463361

Abstract

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.

Language: en