Citation

Gjelsvik A, Verhoek-Oftedahl W, Pearlman DN. Womens Health Issues 2003; 13(2): 68-73.

Affiliation

Department of Community Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02906, USA. annie_gjelsvik@brown.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S1049-3867(02)00197-4

PMID

12732443

Abstract

In this study we analyze factors associated with children witnessing police-reported domestic violence (DV) and determine the age distribution of children witnessing. Rhode Island Department of Health surveillance data (1996-1998) from police forms were used to assess demographic characteristics of victims, characteristics of incidents, whether children were present, and children's ages. Victim gender, age, race/ethnicity, relationship to suspect, and whether the victim was assaulted were all strong predictors of children witnessing a DV incident. Almost half (48%) of the children who witnessed DV incidents were less than 6 years old. To reach these young children, prevention and intervention programs will need to target parents and caretakers of young children and/or pediatricians.

Language: en