The Assault and Battery Panorama at a County Hospital in Sweden

Abstract

All patients who had been assaulted and battered and who consulted the surgical emergency service at the county hospital were included. Fourtyseven cases were registered during a 5-month period, representing 1.1% of the surgical emergency patients. There were 31 males and 16 females. No case of child assault was recorded. About 55% of the males were between the ages of 20 and 29, whereas the females were relatively evenly distributed between 20 and 50 years of age. The patient material was analysed regarding social conditions, in what way the injury had originated and also the degree of severity of the injury. The social background and the presence of alcohol use or abuse were, as expected, important factors. Males were, as a rule, assaulted outside the home, females mostly at home. A few of the assault cases were legally prosecuted. The need for follow-up welfare measures was judged as considerable.