| Domestic violence is a complex phenomenon influenced by a myriad of social, cultural, and psychological factors. Worldwide, between ten and fifty percent of women report being physically assaulted at some point in their lives. There is a paucity of research available that discusses the screening of the victim of domestic violence in relation to income, education, insurance, work status, and rural residence.; The purposes of this study were to identify the similarities and differences that rural women face when confronting domestic violence as compared to their suburban and urban counterparts with regard to: age, race, marital status, level of education, status of employment, the time period in which women seek medical care, the health care provider's willingness to screen for domestic violence, and the health care provider/client relationship.; Building on the domestic violence literature, a conceptual model using the Web of Causation was developed to explain the interrelationships that result in domestic violence. Using a secondary data set this model was tested. The data set used was the 1998 Women's Health Survey by the Commonwealth Fund. Chi square and logistic regression statistical tests were used to answer the six research questions proposed by the model. This study used a descriptive correlational design.; The sample consisted of 2,850. The racial groups represented were, white, black, Hispanic, and Asian women from 49 states. The location variables of rural, suburban, and urban are discussed in this study.; The most significant findings resulting from this research study were: (1) location of residence does not make a difference in being a victim of domestic violence; (2) rural health care providers were more likely to screen for domestic violence than suburban or urban health care providers; and (3) that the higher the women's perception of her health care provider the more likely the health care provider was to screen for domestic violence. |
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