Type:	Journal Article
Title:	Abuse assessment screen-disability (AAS-D): measuring frequency, type, and perpetrator of abuse toward women with physical disabilities
Other Titles:	Journal of women's health & gender-based medicine
Authors:	Nosek, Maraget A Swedlend, Nancy McFarlane, Judith Hughes, Rosemary B Groff, Janet Y Dolan Mullen, Patricia
Keywords:	Screening;Health;Cross-cultural;Disability
Population:	People with disability
Year:	2001
Publisher:	Mary Ann Liebert
Citation:	10 (9), 2001
Notes:	The official publication of the Society for the Advancement of Women's Health Research General Overview: In order to determine the frequency of abuse among disabled women, the AAS-D tool was developed because abuse tools that focus on intimate partner abuse do not detect abuse by a carer or healthcare provider. The results of this US study found that rates of abuse by an intimate partner are almost the same for disabled women as for able bodied women, the main factor differentiating them is the additional risk that disabled women face from their carers. Objective:The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency, type and perpetrators of abuse towards women with physical disabilities. Method: Five specialty clinics in the US serving women with physical disabilities provided the setting for data collection. Researchers administered the AAS-D survey to 511 English and Spanish speaking women with a disability that limited one or more major life activities, including mobility and self care. Women were asked to self define their ethnic affiliation. Results: Fifty of the 511 women (9.8%) reported abuse within the last year. When the standard questions were asked, 40 women reported abuse, however when the two additional disability related questions were asked, a further ten or 2% of the population reported abuse. The 37 women defining themselves as other than black, white or Hispanic were more likely to report physical, sexual abuse or both. Of the ten women who reported disability related abuse, eight identified themselves as Caucasian. An intimate partner was the primary perpetrator of physical or sexual abuse. Disability related abuse was reported almost equally by an intimate partner, a care provider or a health professional. Discussion: The study was undertaken in an urban disabled clinic and replication in rural geographic areas, as well as in a more severely disabled clinic, is necessary to capture a more diverse group of women. The study relied on self-reporting which may result in under or over reporting, limiting the study results. There was no attempt to confirm these results independently or to validate the instrument itself. Nevertheless, this study demonstrates and documents the usefulness of an abuse assessment tool designed for women with physical disabilities. Using a traditional two question tool would have only detected 80% of the abused women.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/13238
ISSN:	1524-6094
Appears in Collections:	Journal Articles

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