Intimate Partner Violence/Problem and Victims in Rhode Island.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as violence or threat of violence in a close relationship, including current/ former spouses or dating partners.1-3 IPV affects females and racial/ethnic minorities disproportionately in the U.S.2 Societal costs of IPV victimization approach $6 billion every year based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data.2, 3 There are many risk factors for IPV, including low education, unemployment, poor neighborhood, public assistance receipt, alcohol abuse, prior domestic violence or forced sex, abusive relationship, access to firearms, and previous mental health problems of the suspect.1-3 IPV causes a substantial burden on individuals, families, and communities. Because of the prevalence and associated costs, IPV has been recognized as a major public health problem.1-5 Recent research on IPV is focusing on evidence that it can be prevented and interventions that can stop IPV before it happens.6 In order to prevent IPV, we need to know the facts about IPV-related deaths. The Rhode Island Violent Death Reporting System (RIVDRS) is a statewide active surveillance system that links multiple data sources, collects information such as demographic characteristics, substance use, and circumstances including mental health status on all suicides, homicides, legal intervention deaths, unintentional firearm deaths, and undetermined deaths. RIVDRS data can provide insight into IPV deaths that can inform prevention efforts at the state level. For this study, we will estimate the prevalence of IPV using the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data and examine the characteristics of IPV/intimate partner problem (IPP)-related deaths by manner of death in Rhode Island using the 2004–2013 RIVDRS data.