Tracking Interpersonal Violence: A 13-Year Review of Cases in a Referral Hospital (2009-2022)

Interpersonal violence involves intentional physical harm with psychological effects, influenced by interper-sonal and societal factors. Health systems play a vital role in detecting and addressing such violence, requir-ing improved training and surveillance. Our hospital established a registry for suspected violence cases re-ported by healthcare professionals to enhance understanding, prevention strategies, and recognition of vio-lence types and risk factors. Since 2009, all admitted patients suspected of experiencing violence were in-cluded, regardless of age or gender. Data from 2009 to 2022 covered demographics, violence details, medical interventions, and legal actions. Among 1,284 patients, 83.4% were seen in the emergency department, with women comprising 80.8% and a mean age of 33.19 years. Reports of violence rose from 1.9% in 2009 to 16.9% in 2022. Risk factors included pregnancy [5.6%], age below 18 or over 80 [18.9%], disability [10.2%], and psy-chiatric conditions [11.3%]. Perpetrators were known in 56.8% of cases, mainly intimate partners [25.2%], with 29.4% of victims living with the aggressor. Doctors were primary reporters, and injury reports were is-sued in 65.5% of cases. Violence types included physical [44.5%], sexual [22.4%], psychological [13.3%], and economic [12.5%], with 36.3% involving multiple types. Routine hospital screening and trained staff can im-prove victim support and enable injury prevention programs.