Citation

Vadysinghe AN, Edussuriya D, Lakma MRY. Arab J. Forensic Sci. Forensic Med. 2019; 1(8): 1025-1033.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences)

DOI

10.26735/16586794.2018.029

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a common global healthproblem. The injury pattern and socio-demographic profile of IPVin Sri Lanka may show variations to that seen in a western societydue to socio-cultural differences. The objective of this study wasto identify the injury pattern and the socio-demographic aspects ofIPV in a Sri Lankan context.All the victims of IPV presented to the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya,Peradeniya, Sri Lanka from 2006 to 2011 were included inthis study. There were 226 cases of IPV of which 96% were female.The majority were married and living together. They were less than30 years of age, unemployed, with more than 2 children, had a pooreducation and were in the early phase of marriage.Seventy-two percent experienced physical violence resultingin contusions (72%) and abrasions (42%). A significant proportion(11%) did not have any visible injuries. The commonest area of injurywas upper limbs (63%) with the head and face being involvedin 54% of the cases. The majority (84%) were non grievous injuriesinflicted by bare hands (58%) and feet (13%).Profiling of such victims would enable social and communityworkers to identify this vulnerable group for early intervention andprevention of such occurrences.

Language: en

Keywords

Forensic Science; Injury patterns; Intimate partner violence (IPV); socio-demographic profile; Srilanka.