History of domestic violence and health service use among mid-aged Australian women

Loxton, Deborah; Schofield, Margot Jocelyn; Hussain, Rafat

doi:10.1111/j.1467-842X.2004.tb00448.x

Author(s)

Loxton, Deborah

Schofield, Margot Jocelyn

Hussain, Rafat

Publication Date

2004

Abstract

Objectives: To examine associations between history of domestic violence and health service use among mid-aged Australian women, adjusting for physical and psychological health status and demographic factors. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional postal survey (1996) of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Of 28,000 women randomly selected, 14,100 (53.5%) aged 45–50 years participated. Logistic regressions were used to assess associations between domestic violence and health service use. Results: After adjusting for demographic variables, multivariate analysis revealed associations between ever having experienced domestic violence and three or more consultations in the previous 12 months with a family doctor (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.68–2.55), hospital doctor (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.44–2.17), or specialist doctor (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.35–1.75), or being hospitalised (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.20–1.54). After adjusting for demographic variables and physical and psychological health status, these associations were attenuated: three or more consultations with family doctor (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.09–1.70), hospital doctor (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.92–1.45), or specialist doctor (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.98–1.32), and being hospitalised (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.96–1.26). Conclusions: Physical and psychological status accounted for the associations between domestic violence and higher health service use, with the exception of GP consultations, which remained associated with domestic violence. Implications: Physical health status only partially explains the increased health service use associated with domestic violence, while both physical and psychological health status explained higher usage of specialist and hospital services. It seems likely that women who have experienced domestic violence may be seeking consultations from GPs for reasons additional to health status.

Citation

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 28(4), p. 383-388

ISSN

1753-6405

1326-0200

Link

https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/3509

Language

en

Publisher

John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Title

History of domestic violence and health service use among mid-aged Australian women

Type of document

Journal Article

Entity Type

Publication

Author(s)	Loxton, Deborah Schofield, Margot Jocelyn Hussain, Rafat
Publication Date	2004
Abstract	Objectives: To examine associations between history of domestic violence and health service use among mid-aged Australian women, adjusting for physical and psychological health status and demographic factors. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional postal survey (1996) of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. Of 28,000 women randomly selected, 14,100 (53.5%) aged 45–50 years participated. Logistic regressions were used to assess associations between domestic violence and health service use. Results: After adjusting for demographic variables, multivariate analysis revealed associations between ever having experienced domestic violence and three or more consultations in the previous 12 months with a family doctor (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.68–2.55), hospital doctor (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.44–2.17), or specialist doctor (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.35–1.75), or being hospitalised (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.20–1.54). After adjusting for demographic variables and physical and psychological health status, these associations were attenuated: three or more consultations with family doctor (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.09–1.70), hospital doctor (OR 1.16, 95% CI 0.92–1.45), or specialist doctor (OR 1.14, 95% CI 0.98–1.32), and being hospitalised (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.96–1.26). Conclusions: Physical and psychological status accounted for the associations between domestic violence and higher health service use, with the exception of GP consultations, which remained associated with domestic violence. Implications: Physical health status only partially explains the increased health service use associated with domestic violence, while both physical and psychological health status explained higher usage of specialist and hospital services. It seems likely that women who have experienced domestic violence may be seeking consultations from GPs for reasons additional to health status.
Citation	Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 28(4), p. 383-388
ISSN	1753-6405 1326-0200
Link	https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/3509
Language	en
Publisher	John Wiley & Sons, Inc
Title	History of domestic violence and health service use among mid-aged Australian women
Type of document	Journal Article
Entity Type	Publication

History of domestic violence and health service use among mid-aged Australian women

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