Is Race a Factor in Disparate Health Problems Associated with Violent Victimization in Alaska?

INTRODUCTION:  Research studies examining the health correlates of violence against women have consistently demonstrated associations between violence and poor health outcomes, but this study is perhaps one of the first to investigate the effect of race on the health conditions of women who have experienced violence in their lives.

METHODS:  Data came from the Alaska Victimization Survey (AVS) - a cross-sectional telephone survey designed to provide baseline estimates of intimate partner and sexual violence for Alaskan adult women. For the study the independent variable was lifetime intimate partner or sexual violence victimization, and the dependent variables were health outcomes including fair/poor physical health, fair/poor mental health, high blood pressure, frequent headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic pain. Logistic regression was used to assess the odds of experiencing various health problems given race and exposure to violence status while controlling for age and education. In total, six regression models were run with four variables in each model.

RESULTS: All six regression models had good fit. This study found that victimization increased the odds of health problems for all women, but significantly more so for minority women. The odds of experiencing each of the health outcomes above (except irritable bowel syndrome) were significantly higher among minority women who had experienced violence.  Minority women who had experienced violence had greater odds of having high blood pressure (OR=1.76), fair/poor physical health (OR=3.15), fair/poor mental health (OR=5.14), frequent headaches (OR=2.22), and chronic pain (OR=4.12) than White women who had experienced violence.  

CONCLUSIONS:  Policy and practice implications of the study suggest different racial groups may have different needs, and therefore require distinctive strategies when addressing violence and violence-related health outcomes. Findings suggest the need for prevention and reduction of violence against all women, as well as routine screening for violence, referrals for service, and trauma-informed care of women by health care providers.