Utilization of services by abused, low-income African-American women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Little is known about health care and service utilization patterns among low-income African-American women, particularly those who report intimate partner violence (IPV).

Objectives

(1) Identify utilization patterns among low-income African-American women. (2) Demonstrate utilization differences by IPV status.

Participants

One hundred and fifty-three African-American women from medical care clinics at a large inner-city public hospital.

Design

Case-control study. Predictor variable IPV assessed by the Index of Spouse Abuse. Outcome variables, health care, and service utilization, determined using the Adult Service Utilization Form.

Results

Of the 153 participants, 68 reported high IPV levels. The mean age was 32 years, majority were poor and u

SUBMITTER: Paranjape A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1484669 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature