Interpersonal Violence & Traumatic Brain Injuries among Native Americans & Women

OBJECTIVES:

This study aimed to assess the odds of experiencing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of interpersonal violence (IPV) among Native Americans compared to other races controlling for gender, age, socioeconomic status, rurality and intoxication at the time of the injury.

METHODS:

A secondary data analysis of the Arizona Trauma Database consisting of 18 944 cases of TBI between 2008-2010 throughout the state of Arizona was conducted. There were 312 patients who experienced injuries caused by IPV in the sample. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, bivariate analyses and a logistic regression model were used for analyses.

RESULTS:

The logistic regression model found that Native Americans (OR = 1.15), patients from the other race category (OR = 1.18), females (OR = 1.35) and those who were insured (OR = 1.26) had higher odds of experiencing a TBI as a result of IPV. Rurality and intoxication were mediators of the correlation between Native American race and TBI as a result of IPV.

CONCLUSIONS:

Native Americans are more likely than Whites and females are more likely than males to experience TBIs as a result of IPV.

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By:  Linton KF1.

• 1School of Social Work, University of Hawaii at Manoa , Honolulu, HI , USA. 
• Brain Inj. 2015;29(5):639-43. doi: 10.3109/02699052.2014.989406. Epub 2014 Dec 17.

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