Parameters:
(1) substance abuse by companion
(2) employment status of companion
(3) education level of companion
(4) status with male partner (companion)
|
Parameter
|
Finding
|
Points
|
|
substance abuse
|
none
|
0
|
|
|
alcohol abuse
|
1
|
|
|
drug abuse
|
1
|
|
|
both
|
2
|
|
employment status
|
regularly employed
|
0
|
|
|
intermittently employed
|
1
|
|
|
recently unemployed
|
1
|
|
|
long-term unemployed
|
0
|
|
education level
|
did not finish high school
|
1
|
|
|
high school or above
|
0
|
|
status
|
former or estranged husband
|
1
|
|
|
former or estranged boyfriend
|
1
|
|
|
other
|
0
|
where:
• The relative risk for the risk factors range from 2.5 to 3.6.
total number of risk factors =
= SUM(points for all of the parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of risk factors: 0
• maximum number of risk factors: 5
• The risk of being injured increases with the number of risk factors.
• While the study was done on women with male partners, the risk factors probably apply to other domestic arrangements since the forces (abuse, economic hardship, anger, and ignorance) are there.
