Battered wife syndrome: overview and presentation in the office setting.

Spouse abuse is an under diagnosed entity in primary care. It is common in all social classes of both men and women. It is a cyclic phenomenon that tends to increase in severity and frequency. This article reviews the psychological factors of the man and the woman; the signs and symptoms of abuse; the reasons abused women stay or leave, and treatment modalities. Also discussed are the results of two studies performed by the authors. The first study was an anonymous survey of 218 women to determine the rate of spouse abuse to female patients in two family practice clinics. In the second study 14 clinic patients who volunteered for an interview were asked what they expected from their family doctor in regards to spouse abuse.

Practice location factors influencing South Dakota School of Medicine graduates (1977-85).

Physician numbers and placement continue to be major health delivery concerns in the rural state of South Dakota. This study of four-year graduates (1977-1985) of the South Dakota School of Medicine looks at current factors affecting physician placement and compares placement and location selection factors to a previous study of graduates of the medical school when it was a two-year program (1969-1973). Factors influencing physicians locating in South Dakota were: closeness to their home town and or spouses' home town, residency training in small towns, payment of educational loans, medical school clerkships, time of decision, etc. Factors influencing physicians locating in rural communities (less than 5,000) were: growing up in small communities, residency training in small communities, early location decisions, payment of loans, and high medical need.

Rates of domestic violence against adult women by men partners.

This study examines the rate of domestic violence against adult women by men partners. Two hundred eighteen women at two primary care clinics responded anonymously to a questionnaire. Forty-eight percent reported verbal abuse, 44 percent minor physical abuse, and 28 percent severe physical abuse. Abuse was common (16 percent) before marriage. Respondents whose partners were reported to be chemically dependent or sexually abusive were at greater risk for verbal and physical abuse. Respondents with lower socioeconomic status were at increased risk for verbal and physical abuse, as were women whose partners had less formal education. Ages of respondents and partners were not significant factors in abuse. Boyfriends not cohabitating were the least abusive, while couples together for 4 to 6 years had more domestic violence than other couples. Because spouse abuse is common and the consequences are devastating, it is important that family physicians become astute in making this diagnosis and initiate early treatment.