Risk Factors for Femicide in Abusive Relationships: Results From a Multisite Case Control Study

Author: Campbell, Jacquelyn C. / Webster, Daniel / Koziol-McLain, Jane / Block, Carolyn / Campbell, Doris / Curry, Mary Ann / Gary, Faye / Glass, Nancy / McFarlane, Judith / Sachs, Carolyn, et al.
Publication: American Journal of Public Health
Topics: Domestic Violence Homicide
Keywords: Gun Access Intimate Partner Violence femicide risk factor
Bibliographic information +

The authors examined risk factors for femicide in abusive relationships in this 11-city case-control study, using police and medical examiner reports to identify intimate partner femicide victims and interviewing their proxies. Access to a gun and previous threat with a weapon, the presence of a perpetrator’s stepchild in the home, and estrangement were pre-incident factors that increased the risk of femicide, while prior domestic violence arrests and never cohabiting were associated with decreased risks. Victim living for another partner, stalking, forced sex, abuse during pregnancy and the perpetrator’s use of a gun were identified as significant incident factors