Owen, Lucy, Hare Briedahl, Sibella, Mussared, Maud, Brownlea, Sandra, and Kault, David (2024) A descriptive study of domestic and family violence presentations to an emergency department in the Northern Territory. Emergency Medicine Australasia, 36 (5). pp. 703-709.

PDF (Published Version) - Published Version Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

Objective: Examine the nature of domestic and family violence (DFV) presentations to an ED in the Northern Territory and identify potential gaps in service delivery.

Methods: Prospective descriptive study of DFV presentations in November 2021.

Results: A total of 70 presentations were identified, representing 1.2% of all presentations aged 16 years and older. Disproportionately impacted were First Nations people (90%), women (77.1%) and those aged less than 40 years (67.1%). Most (81.4%) arrived outside of business hours and only 37.1% were assessed by the social worker. Case complexity was increased by high rates of homelessness (30%), concurrent alcohol consumption (44.3%) and pregnancy (11.1% of females). More than a third (37.1%) had attended on one to four occasions in the previous 6 months with a DFV-related injury. Compared to non-DFV attendances, the median ED length of stay was approximately twice as long (456 vs 210 min), admissions rates to the ED short stay unit five times higher (25.7% vs 5.7%; P < 0.01, odds ratio [OR] = 5.7 and 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.3–9.8) and rates of self-discharge prior to completion of care 9 times higher (12.9% vs 1.5%; P < 0.01, OR = 9.5 and 95% CI = 4.6–19.7).

Conclusion: The data highlights the need for a 24 h trauma-informed, culturally safe and integrated service to support people experiencing DFV. This could be achieved by a specialist unit designed and staffed by First Nations health practitioners.

Item ID:	85517
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1742-6723
Copyright Information:	© 2024 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine.
Date Deposited:	16 Dec 2025 23:09
FoR Codes:	45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4504 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing > 450499 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing not elsewhere classified @ 70% 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3202 Clinical sciences > 320207 Emergency medicine @ 30%
SEO Codes:	21 INDIGENOUS > 2101 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community services > 210199 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community services not elsewhere classified @ 50% 21 INDIGENOUS > 2103 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health > 210303 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health system performance @ 50%
	More Statistics