North Carolina medical journal
-
Strategies for preventing domestic violence can be tailored to a particular geographic or socioeconomic area if the patterns of domestic violence in the area are known. National statistics, although widely available, may not be applicable to a specific region. We reviewed homicide deaths in Eastern North Carolina between 1978 and 1999 to identify patterns in this rural area. ⋯ But fatal cases of DV are only the tip of the iceberg, and may pertain only to a particular geographic area. We undertook the present study to assess the prevalence of lethal domestic violence in the 29 counties of eastern North Carolina (ENC) that make up the catchment area for the University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina (UHSEC). UHSEC includes the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (BSM-ECU; previously known as East Carolina University-SOM) and Pitt County Memorial Hospital.
-
As physicians we should continue to do those things we do well. But we need to focus our efforts in novel ways in order to address the pervasive and insidious problem of domestic violence. ⋯ We need to become advocates in our own practices, communicating to all patients our interest in domestic violence and our willingness to help victims. We need to become active in our communities in efforts to eliminate domestic violence and to improve services to victims.