Diogo Costa1, Eleni Hatzidimitriadou2, Elli Ioannidi-Kapolo3, Jutta Lindert4,5,6, Joaquim Soares7, Örjan Sundin8, Olga Toth9, Henrique Barros10. 1. EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. 2. Faculty of Health and Wellbeing, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury, Kent, UK. 3. National School of Public Health Athens, Athens, Greece. 4. Department of Public Health Science Ludwigsburg, Protestant University of Applied Sciences Ludwigsburg, Ludwigsburg, Germany. 5. University of Applied Sciences Emden, Emden, Germany. 6. WRSC, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA. 7. Institution for Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall, Sweden. 8. Department of Psychology, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden. 9. Institute of Sociology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. 10. EPIUnit, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto and University of Porto Medical School, Porto, Portugal.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To examine the relationship between forgone healthcare and involvement in intimate partner violence (IPV) as victims, perpetrators or both. METHODS: This cross-sectional multicentre study assessed community non-institutionalized residents (n = 3496, aged 18-64) randomly selected from six European cities: Athens, Budapest, London, Östersund, Porto, Stuttgart. A common questionnaire was used, including self-reports of IPV and forgone healthcare ('Have you been in need of a certain care service in the past year, but did not seek any help?'). Odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed fitting logistic regression models adjusted for city, chronic disease, self-assessed health status and financial strain. RESULTS: Participants experiencing past year IPV (vs. no violence) reported more often to forgone healthcare (n = 3279, 18.6% vs. 15.3%, P = 0.016). IPV experienced as both a victim and perpetrator was associated with forgone healthcare (adjusted OR, 95%CI: 1.32, 1.02-1.70). CONCLUSION: IPV was associated with forgone healthcare, particularly for those experiencing violence as both victims and perpetrators. Results suggest that preventing IPV among adults may improve timely healthcare uptake.
BACKGROUND: To examine the relationship between forgone healthcare and involvement in intimate partner violence (IPV) as victims, perpetrators or both. METHODS: This cross-sectional multicentre study assessed community non-institutionalized residents (n = 3496, aged 18-64) randomly selected from six European cities: Athens, Budapest, London, Östersund, Porto, Stuttgart. A common questionnaire was used, including self-reports of IPV and forgone healthcare ('Have you been in need of a certain care service in the past year, but did not seek any help?'). Odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed fitting logistic regression models adjusted for city, chronic disease, self-assessed health status and financial strain. RESULTS:Participants experiencing past year IPV (vs. no violence) reported more often to forgone healthcare (n = 3279, 18.6% vs. 15.3%, P = 0.016). IPV experienced as both a victim and perpetrator was associated with forgone healthcare (adjusted OR, 95%CI: 1.32, 1.02-1.70). CONCLUSION: IPV was associated with forgone healthcare, particularly for those experiencing violence as both victims and perpetrators. Results suggest that preventing IPV among adults may improve timely healthcare uptake.