Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a Nordic cross-sectional study
BACKGROUND: Abuse against women causes much suffering for individuals and is a major concern for society. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of three types of abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics in five Nordic countries, and to assess the frequency with which gynaecologists identify abus...
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2003
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Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/2336/4781 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13719-1 |
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ftlandspitaliuni:oai:www.hirsla.lsh.is:2336/4781 2023-05-15T16:48:44+02:00 Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a Nordic cross-sectional study Wijma, B Schei, B Swahnberg, K Hilden, M Offerdal, K Pikarinen, U Sidenius, K Steingrimsdottir, T Stoum, H Halmesmäki, E 2003-06-21 YES http://hdl.handle.net/2336/4781 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13719-1 en eng Lancet Publishing Group http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T1B-48W8N1D-8&_coverDate=06%2F21%2F2003&_alid=460121198&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=4886&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000058274&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2631555&md5=e678770abdee5b8446af4c9140d4be4c Lancet 2003, 361(9375):2107-13 1474-547X 12826432 doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13719-1 OAG12 http://hdl.handle.net/2336/4781 Lancet Adolescent Adult Battered Women Cross-Sectional Studies Domestic Violence Female Finland/epidemiology Humans Iceland/epidemiology Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Hospital Prevalence Questionnaires Referral and Consultation Retrospective Studies Scandinavia/epidemiology Sex Offenses Stress Psychological Article 2003 ftlandspitaliuni https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13719-1 2022-05-29T08:20:53Z BACKGROUND: Abuse against women causes much suffering for individuals and is a major concern for society. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of three types of abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics in five Nordic countries, and to assess the frequency with which gynaecologists identify abuse victims. METHODS: We did a cross-sectional, multicentre study of women attending five departments of gynaecology in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. We recruited 4729 patients; 3641 (77%) responded and were included in the study. Participants completed a postal questionnaire (norvold abuse questionnaire) confidentially. Primary outcome measures were prevalences of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and whether abused patients had told their gynaecologist about these experiences. We assessed differences between countries with Pearson's chi(2) test. FINDINGS: The ranges across the five countries of lifetime prevalence were 38-66% for physical abuse, 19-37% for emotional abuse, and 17-33% for sexual abuse. Not all abused women reported current ill-effects from the abusive experience. Most women (92-98%) had not talked to their gynaecologist about their experiences of abuse at their latest clinic visit. INTERPRETATION: Despite prevalences of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse being high in patients visiting gynaecology clinics in the Nordic countries, most victims of abuse are not identified by their gynaecologists. This lack of discussion might increase the risk of abused patients not being treated according to their needs. Gynaecologists should always consider asking their patients about abuse. Article in Journal/Newspaper Iceland Hirsla - Landspítali University Hospital research archive Norway The Lancet 361 9375 2107 2113 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Hirsla - Landspítali University Hospital research archive |
op_collection_id |
ftlandspitaliuni |
language |
English |
topic |
Adolescent Adult Battered Women Cross-Sectional Studies Domestic Violence Female Finland/epidemiology Humans Iceland/epidemiology Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Hospital Prevalence Questionnaires Referral and Consultation Retrospective Studies Scandinavia/epidemiology Sex Offenses Stress Psychological |
spellingShingle |
Adolescent Adult Battered Women Cross-Sectional Studies Domestic Violence Female Finland/epidemiology Humans Iceland/epidemiology Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Hospital Prevalence Questionnaires Referral and Consultation Retrospective Studies Scandinavia/epidemiology Sex Offenses Stress Psychological Wijma, B Schei, B Swahnberg, K Hilden, M Offerdal, K Pikarinen, U Sidenius, K Steingrimsdottir, T Stoum, H Halmesmäki, E Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a Nordic cross-sectional study |
topic_facet |
Adolescent Adult Battered Women Cross-Sectional Studies Domestic Violence Female Finland/epidemiology Humans Iceland/epidemiology Obstetrics and Gynecology Department Hospital Prevalence Questionnaires Referral and Consultation Retrospective Studies Scandinavia/epidemiology Sex Offenses Stress Psychological |
description |
BACKGROUND: Abuse against women causes much suffering for individuals and is a major concern for society. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of three types of abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics in five Nordic countries, and to assess the frequency with which gynaecologists identify abuse victims. METHODS: We did a cross-sectional, multicentre study of women attending five departments of gynaecology in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. We recruited 4729 patients; 3641 (77%) responded and were included in the study. Participants completed a postal questionnaire (norvold abuse questionnaire) confidentially. Primary outcome measures were prevalences of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and whether abused patients had told their gynaecologist about these experiences. We assessed differences between countries with Pearson's chi(2) test. FINDINGS: The ranges across the five countries of lifetime prevalence were 38-66% for physical abuse, 19-37% for emotional abuse, and 17-33% for sexual abuse. Not all abused women reported current ill-effects from the abusive experience. Most women (92-98%) had not talked to their gynaecologist about their experiences of abuse at their latest clinic visit. INTERPRETATION: Despite prevalences of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse being high in patients visiting gynaecology clinics in the Nordic countries, most victims of abuse are not identified by their gynaecologists. This lack of discussion might increase the risk of abused patients not being treated according to their needs. Gynaecologists should always consider asking their patients about abuse. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Wijma, B Schei, B Swahnberg, K Hilden, M Offerdal, K Pikarinen, U Sidenius, K Steingrimsdottir, T Stoum, H Halmesmäki, E |
author_facet |
Wijma, B Schei, B Swahnberg, K Hilden, M Offerdal, K Pikarinen, U Sidenius, K Steingrimsdottir, T Stoum, H Halmesmäki, E |
author_sort |
Wijma, B |
title |
Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a Nordic cross-sectional study |
title_short |
Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a Nordic cross-sectional study |
title_full |
Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a Nordic cross-sectional study |
title_fullStr |
Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a Nordic cross-sectional study |
title_full_unstemmed |
Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a Nordic cross-sectional study |
title_sort |
emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in patients visiting gynaecology clinics: a nordic cross-sectional study |
publisher |
Lancet Publishing Group |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/2336/4781 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13719-1 |
geographic |
Norway |
geographic_facet |
Norway |
genre |
Iceland |
genre_facet |
Iceland |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T1B-48W8N1D-8&_coverDate=06%2F21%2F2003&_alid=460121198&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_qd=1&_cdi=4886&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000058274&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=2631555&md5=e678770abdee5b8446af4c9140d4be4c Lancet 2003, 361(9375):2107-13 1474-547X 12826432 doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13719-1 OAG12 http://hdl.handle.net/2336/4781 Lancet |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13719-1 |
container_title |
The Lancet |
container_volume |
361 |
container_issue |
9375 |
container_start_page |
2107 |
op_container_end_page |
2113 |
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1766038818901721088 |