Risk Factors for Femicide in Abusive Relationships: Results From a Multisite Case Control Study
Jacquelyn C. Campbell, PhD, RN,
Daniel Webster, ScD, MPH,
Jane Koziol-McLain, PhD, RN,
Carolyn Block, PhD,
Doris Campbell, PhD, RN,
Mary Ann Curry, PhD, RN,
Faye Gary, PhD, RN,
Nancy Glass, PhD, MPH, RN,
Judith McFarlane, PhD, RN,
Carolyn Sachs, MD, MPH,
Phyllis Sharps, PhD, RN,
Yvonne Ulrich, PhD, RN,
Susan A. Wilt, DrPH,
Jennifer Manganello, PhD, MPH,
Xiao Xu, PhD, RN,
Janet Schollenberger, MHS,
Victoria Frye, MPH and
Kathryn Laughon, MPH
Jacquelyn C. Campbell, Phyllis Sharps, and Kathryn Laughon are with the School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md. Daniel Webster, Jennifer Manganello, and Janet Schollenberger are with the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University. Jane Koziol-McLain is with the School of Nursing, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand. Carolyn Rebecca Block is with the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Chicago. Doris Campbell is with the College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa. Mary Ann Curry and Nancy Glass are with the School of Nursing, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland. Faye Gary is with the College of Nursing, University of Florida, Gainesville. Judith McFarlane is with the School of Nursing, Texas Womens University, Houston. Carolyn Sachs is with the School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles. Yvonne Ulrich is with the School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle. Susan A. Wilt is with the New York City Department of Health. Xiao Xu is with Covance Inc, Washington, DC. Victoria A. Frye is with St. Lukes Medical Center, New York City.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Jacquelyn C. Campbell, PhD, RN, Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, 525 N Wolfe St, #436, Baltimore, MD 21205-2110 (e-mail: jcampbell{at}son.jhmi.edu).
Objectives. This 11-city study sought to identify risk factorsfor femicide in abusive relationships.
Methods. Proxies of 220 intimate partner femicide victims identifiedfrom police or medical examiner records were interviewed, alongwith 343 abused control women.
Results. Preincident risk factors associated in multivariateanalyses with increased risk of intimate partner femicide includedperpetrators access to a gun and previous threat witha weapon, perpetrators stepchild in the home, and estrangement,especially from a controlling partner. Never living togetherand prior domestic violence arrest were associated with loweredrisks. Significant incident factors included the victim havingleft for another partner and the perpetrators use ofa gun. Other significant bivariate-level risks included stalking,forced sex, and abuse during pregnancy.
Conclusions. There are identifiable risk factors for intimatepartner femicides.
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