Comparison of risk factors among three different types of youth violence

Abstract

Study objectives: The purpose of this study is to describe and compare demographic characteristics and risk factors for youth violence between 3 types of violent circumstances, fights, assaults, and domestic violence, frequently treated in the emergency department (ED). Methods: This was a descriptive study conducted at an urban ED. The population was patients aged 10 to 24 years. The study was conducted from June 1998 to February 2002 on patients presenting to the ED with a violence-related injury. Patients were assessed in the ED with a standardized risk-factor assessment tool and then followed up for up to a 6-month period either by telephone interview or school or home visits by the social work team. The 3 groups (fights, assaults, and domestic violence) were compared using demographic and risk factors for violent injury characteristics. This was a multivariable analysis, and confidence intervals were calculated for each analysis. Results: Results are given in the Table. Conclusion: Although all victims of violence enrolled in the study shared the same census tract area, there were differences on demographics and risk factors for violence between the groups. Data obtained will help develop specific ED programs to assess each type of violent circumstance.Table, abstract 317.FightsAssaultDomestic ViolenceNo.40313253Age, y, mean (SD)17.72 (3.68)18.21 (3.81)21.75 (1.81)Sex, female/male, %42.4/57.622.7/77.388.5/11.5Race, No. (%)Black343 (87.7)111 (86.0)47 (92.2)White13 (3.3)10 (7.8)1 (2.0)Hispanic21 (5.4)7 (5.4)2 (3.9)Location, No. (%)Home112 (28.8)5 (12.2)33 (66.0)School78 (20.1)20 (16.3)1 (2.0)Public place146 (37.5)72 (58.5)6 (12.0)Alcohol use, No. (%)45 (20.9)16 (28.6)12 (38.7)Drug use, No. (%)7 (4.2)2 (4.7)5 (23.8)Access to weapon, No. (%)57 (14.1)17 (12.9)10 (18.9)Known perpetrator, No. (%)299 (76.9)46 (37.1)53 (100)Arrest history, No. (%)70 (28.8)16 (25.4)5 (15.2)History of violence, No. (%)108 (32.8)32 (29.6)22 (57.9)