Original communicationTrends in deliberate interpersonal violence in the Odense Municipality, Denmark 1991–2002.: The Odense study on deliberate interpersonal violence☆
Introduction
Deliberate interpersonal violence is one of the leading causes of injury worldwide.1 Each day the media bring violence to public attention. It appears to have become a common opinion in Denmark that the frequency of violence has increased, and that injuries have become more severe. According to a Danish survey 42% of females and 9% of males avoid empty or desolate parts of cities because of the risk of exposure to violence or sexual assault.2
Previous studies based on police crime statistics have shown an increasing frequency of violence.[3], [4] However, papers have documented the limitations of these data sources due to high level of non-reporting.[4], [5], [6], [7] Therefore, the use of hospital based data in violence research and prevention has been recommended.[6], [7], [8], [9]
Numerous papers have described the frequency and severity of violence based on hospital data. The majority of these papers cover a short period of time, whereas studies showing the development in frequency and severity over decades are few. Sivarajasingam et al. found no overall significant change in levels of violence between 1995 and 2000 in an English and Welsh population.10 A Norwegian study showed a 15–20% decrease in the annual incidence rates of violence in the period 1990–1997.11 A Swedish study showed an increase in the age-standardized incidence rate of hospital admissions following violence in males 1987–1994.12 In a previous Danish study covering the study periods 1981–82, 1987–88, and 1993–94 the annual incidence rates decreased from 6.5 to 4.6 per 1000.5
Temporal changes in severity of violence are not well researched. Brink found no change in the severity of lesions, and the frequency of penetrating violence and the use of weapons remained unchanged in a Danish population in the periods 1981–82, 1987–88, and 1993–94.13 Boström et al. showed an increasing frequency of stab wounds in a Swedish population during the time period 1985–1993.14 However, more studies on the development in lesions and severity of violence are needed.
The aim of this study was to describe the development in the frequency and severity of physical deliberate interpersonal violence based on hospital and/or forensic data from a Danish urban population during the time period 1991–2002.
Section snippets
Methods
Physical deliberate interpersonal violence has previously been defined by the World Health Organisation.1 The population base for the study was the Odense Municipality in Denmark for the period 1991–2002. All victims of violence treated at the open access accident and emergency (A and E) department at Odense University Hospital or subjected to medicolegal autopsy at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark were included as cases. In cases of more than one contact for
Results
In the study period 1991–2002, 14,316 victims of deliberate physical interpersonal violence from the Odense Municipality were treated at Odense University Hospital or subjected to medicolegal autopsy at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Southern Denmark. At the A and E department 14,282 patients were registered and 20 patients were registered at the Institute of Forensic Medicine. Another, 14 patients were registered at both places. Overall 10,481 (73%) were males corresponding
Discussion
The present study does not support an increasing frequency of deliberate interpersonal violence. Based on A and E department and forensic data we found both a slightly and significantly decreasing overall and gender specific annual incidence rate for males in a local region involving about 5% of the entire Danish population. Furthermore, we did not find any evidence that violence has become more brutal. This is in contrast to the general public opinion.
The annual incidence rates varied with age
Conclusions
Based on A and E department and forensic data we found no evidence of an increase in the incidence of deliberate interpersonal violence in the time period 1991–2002. Furthermore, the study did find that injuries from violence have become more severe. The findings from this study are consistent with other Danish studies of violence based on A and E department and/or forensic data.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Institute of Clinical Research at the University of Southern Denmark, the Dagmar Marshall Foundation, Østifterne Insurance Company, Grethe and Sigurd Pedersen’s Foundation, and the Funen County.
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The study was founded by the University of southern Denmark, the Dagmar Marshall Foundation, Østifterne Insurance Company, Grethe and Sigurd Pedersen’s Foundation, and the Funen County. The authors’ work was independent of the founding.