Factors associated with increased risk for lethal violence in intimate partner relationships among ethnically diverse black women.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with increased risk for lethal violence among ethnically diverse Black women in Baltimore, Maryland (MD), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Women with abuse experiences (N = 456) were recruited from primary care, prenatal, or family planning clinics in Baltimore, MD, and St. Thomas and St. Croix. Logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with the risk for lethal violence among abused women. Factors independently related to increased risk of lethal violence included fear of abusive partners, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), symptoms, and use of legal resources. These factors must be considered in assessing safety needs of Black women in abusive relationships.