Gynaecological health among mid-aged women who have experienced partner violence

Purpose: Few investigations have examined associations between partner violence and health using community samples of women. This study investigates associations between partner violence and gynaecological health, and focuses on use of preventive services in a representative sample of mid-age women. Methods: The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH) collects self-report data from three age cohorts (aged 18-23, 45-50, & 70-75 in 1996) by mailed surveys on a rolling basis every three years. For the current study, data come from 10,903 women aged 53-58 years who answered Survey 4 during 2004. Logistic regression models will be used to determine relationships between partner violence and gynaecological factors after adjusting for demographic and health behaviour variables. Gynaecological factors include Pap smears, mammograms, abnormal test results, hysterectomy and cervical cancer. Results: Preliminary analyses revealed a significant association between partner violence and hysterectomy: 42% of women who had lived with a violent partner had undergone a hysterectomy compared to 30% of women who had not lived with a violent partner. Women who had experienced partner violence were less likely than other women to have undertaken preventive screening, that is, pap smears, mammograms, clinical breast examinations and breast self-examinations. The presentation will describe associations between partner violence and gynaecological preventive screening after adjusting for demographic and health behaviour variables. Conclusion: The current study builds on prior research among the ALSWH younger cohort (then aged 18-23 years) that showed relationships between partner violence and poorer reproductive health. Taken together, these findings of a significant association between partner violence and poorer gynaecological health and health screening have important implications for policy and practice.