Intimate Partner Violence-Related Deaths in North Carolina: A Descriptive Study Using Data from the Violent Death Reporting System (2011-2015)

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an epidemic related to numerous detrimental outcomes. Of those individuals who experience IPV, some are at heightened risk of being killed by an intimate partner. Unfortunately, little is known about IPV-related deaths. Understanding who is most impacted by these deaths can inform focused prevention strategies. Accordingly, this study used data from the North Carolina (NC) Violent Death Reporting System (NC-VDRS) to assess the characteristics of IPV-related deaths in NC and describe the circumstances surrounding such deaths from 2011-2015.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using NC-VDRS, a population-based surveillance system that compiles detailed information on violent deaths in NC. In NC-VDRS, an IPV-related violent death is defined as an intentional death (e.g., homicide, suicide) where a victim is killed by their current/former intimate partner, or where an immediate or ongoing intimate partner conflict contributed to the victim’s death, including deaths of children, parents, or others. We limited IPV cases to NC residents and used National Center for Health Statistics population estimates for rate calculations. We calculated the proportion of IPV-related deaths and determined the manner of these deaths. We stratified IPV-related death rates by sex. We also stratified the proportion of IPV-related homicides by various demographics, marital status, relationship between the perpetrator and the victim, and weapon used.

Results: Of the 9,682 violent deaths that occurred among NC residents from 2011-2015, 8,976 (92.7%) contained some information on the circumstances of the incident. 529 (5.9%) of deaths with circumstance information were IPV-related. The overall rate of IPV-related death was 1.1 per 100,000 person-years for the study period. Of the 529 IPV-related violent deaths, 54.4% were female and 45.6% were male with a rate of 1.1 and 1.0 per 100,000 respectively. Homicide was the most common manner of death for IPV-related deaths (93.8%). Of all the female homicides (n=543), about 52% (n=282) were IPV-related. Of all male homicides (n=1894), only 11.3% (n=214) were IPV-related. The rate of IPV-related homicides was highest among females aged 25 to 34 (2.3 per 100,000). Most IPV-related homicide victims were non-Hispanic (NH) white (55.8%, n=277). However, the rate of IPV-related homicide was 2.2 times higher for NH American Indians compared to NH whites (1.9 and 0.9 per 100,000 respectively) and 2.0 times higher for NH Blacks (1.8 per 100,000). Thirty-nine percent of IPV-related homicide victims were married, 38.9% single, 18.1% divorced or separated, and 3.6% widowed. A firearm was the most common weapon used in IPV-related homicides (72.1%).

Implications: IPV-related death is a significant issue affecting NC that warrants immediate attention. Prevention efforts focused on serving groups at especially high risk for experiencing IPV are needed, including women as well as NH Black and NH American Indian people. In addition to discussing implications of our findings for research and practice, we will highlight lessons learned from this research for social workers serving IPV survivors, as well as for researchers who are interested in conducting similar studies in their own communities and states.