Domestic Violence Expert Visits BWH
The statistics are startling. In Massachusetts, the first half of 2010 saw an average of one death per week from intimate partner violence. And, approximately 25 percent of domestic violence cases nationwide include attempted strangulation—the third most common cause of death in domestic violence cases.
“Strangulation is a red flag,” said Jacquelyn Campbell, PhD, RN, FAAN, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. “A woman who is involved in a choking incident with her partner is at an increased risk for intimate partner femicide, or death from domestic violence.”
On June 30, in a series of lectures to BWH physicians, nurses and social workers, Campbell spoke about ways to recognize and address attempted strangulation. “We need to identify the women who have a history of abuse and then ask about choking,” she said.
While “strangulation” is the correct word to describe the form of asphyxia characterized by closure of the blood vessels and air passages of the neck as a result of external pressure on the neck, Campbell’s research has found that victims of intimate partner violence relate better to the word “choking” when talking about their abuse.
About 20 percent of women who come through emergency departments are in abusive relationships. Though injury from intimate partner violence is not necessarily the reason for their visits, identifying these women while they are in the health care system is crucial.
“More than 47 percent of women who were killed were seen in the health care system in the year prior to their death,” said Campbell.
Campbell reviewed a list of signs and symptoms that are characteristic of women who have been choked, noting that many abused women have post-traumatic stress disorder which can misrepresent as trouble sleeping or anxiety.
Other signs of choking incidents include traumatic brain injury (TBI), neurological symptoms including memory loss, blacking out, seizures and difficulty concentrating.
Physical symptoms include voice changes, swallowing troubles, swelling of the tongue, petechiae, breathing changes
“It’s important for clinicians to learn how to recognize signs of intimate partner violence and to be able to identify those who are most at risk,” said Mardi Chadwick, JD, director of Passageway. “Jackie’s research has shown us what factors are most likely to lead to a homicide, and we encourage everyone to utilize the tools that she and BWH provide.”
For more information or for training for your department, contact Mardi Chadwick at 617-732-5009 or mchadwick1@partners.org, or visit www.dangerassessment.org/WebApplication1/pages/da/