Battered Women: Presentation At A&E Departments In Singapore

This study was undertaken to assess the demographic and social factors assault characteristics and physical injuries sustained by battered women who were seen at the A&E departments of hospitals in Singapore. Data were gathered from 96 victims who were interviewed at the A&E department of a general hospital in Singapore from July 41992 to November 9 1992. Another set of interview was conducted from November 1 1993 to January 31 1994 among battered women seen at A&E departments of the four main general hospitals on the island to verify the universality of the findings from the first interview. This study was able to find out that the majority of the victims were battered wives. The ages of the victims fell between 16 and 61 years which generally is the most economically productive period in a womans life. Education did not seem to have affected behavior as assailants and victims came from all educational levels. The physical injuries sustained were mainly minor including the face and extremities requiring only outpatient care. The majority of the victims were at A&E department either because of the medical examination required in conjunction with a police report or because of the severity of their injuries.