Reducing intimate partner homicide rates: what are the risk factors for death when a woman is being abused?Research and Public Policy Series

General Overview: This paper presents an overview of the findings of the Chicago Women’s Health Risk Study (CWHRS). That study offers domestic violence professionals insight into the behaviours they can undertake to lower the risk of the woman’s death or the risk that she may commit homicide.

The CWHRS analysed the data of all intimate partner homicides involving a woman, which occurred in Chicago, Illinois over the two year period of 1995-1996 in order to plot the patterns of this violence. Further, this study used detailed interviews with women who came into hospitals and clinics in Chicago neighbourhoods with a high rate of intimate partner violence.

The US study determined that women are more like to die in a homicide if the violence in the relationship: is frequent and systemic; has increased in frequency over the past year; has previously involved the use of assault weapons or choking. Further, women are more likely to be murdered by their intimate partner if either party is using drugs and/or alcohol or if they attempted to leave a violent relationship but were not successful.

The report also discusses the risk factors for victims becoming homicide offenders, finding that the frequency of violence, the lack of availability of resources, being poorer, being older and being in a more traditional relationship meant that victims of domestic violence were more likely to commit homicide.