Hazardous drinking and exposure to interpersonal and community violence on both sides of the U.S. -Mexico border.

Objective: Different patterns of heavy drinking occur by country and proximity to the U.S. Mexico border. Few studies describe the impact of violence on drinking between countries and along the border. Methods: Survey data is from U.S. Mexican origin adults living in Texas and Mexican border and non-border cities, N=4,796. Participants were asked about alcohol consumption, interpersonal physical violence (IPV) and exposure to community violence. Monthly hazardous drinking (5+/4+ for men/women) was the primary outcome. Multivariate logistic regression model comparisons identified best predictors. Results: In the U.S. hazardous drinking was associated with past year IPV (ORadj=2.5; 1.8-3.5) and community violence (ORadj=1.4; 1.1-1.8). In Mexico, IPV (ORadj=3.9; 2.0-7.4) and border proximity (ORadj=0.5; 0.4-0.8) were associated with hazardous drinking but not community violence. Conclusion: Hazardous drinking is associated with IPV in both countries, but violence did not explain border hazardous drinking differences where they existed in Mexico.

Intimate partner violence and health: self-assessed health, chronic health, and somatic symptoms among Mexican American women.

OBJECTIVE: In medical settings intimate partner violence (IPV) has been linked to a variety of health problems. However, few population-based studies have assessed the health of abused women, particularly women from low socioeconomic groups such as Mexican Americans. This study examined the association between recent physical or sexual IPV and self-rated health, chronic health conditions, and somatic symptoms among Mexican American women. METHODS: Participants were women (N = 1155) with current male partners enrolled in a household survey of 3012 Mexican-origin adults, ages 18 to 59 years, living in urban, town, and rural areas of Fresno County, California. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were calculated for four self-assessed health measures, seven chronic diseases, and 32 somatic symptoms. RESULTS: In multivariate analyses, women reporting previous-year physical or sexual IPV were more likely to report 1) fair/poor overall health (OR, 1.9; confidence interval [CI], 1.0-3.7), physical health (OR, 2.1; CI, 1.2-3.9), and mental health (OR, 3.4; CI, 1.9-6.1), as well as worse comparative health (OR, 4.4; CI, 2.3-8.3); 2) a history of heart problems (OR, 17.0; CI, 4.3-66.7); 3) persistent health problems (OR, 3.3; CI, 1.5-7.0); and 4) numerous somatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Physical or sexual IPV was associated with poorer self-assessed health and many health symptoms among this culturally distinctive Mexican American population.

Prevalence and predictors of physical partner abuse among Mexican American women.

OBJECTIVES: This study determined the lifetime prevalence of physical abuse by a current partner among women of Mexican origin and assessed factors associated with abuse. METHODS: Data are for a subsample of 1155 women with current partners from a larger population-based cross-sectional survey of US residents of Mexican origin. RESULTS: The self-reported prevalence of physical abuse by a current partner was 10.7%. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with physical abuse included US birthplace (odds ratio = 2.1; 95% confidence interval = 1.24, 3.56), young age, urban residence, and having 4 or more children. Social support and regular church attendance were protective. CONCLUSIONS: The self-reported prevalence of physical abuse among Mexican American women is high. US birth is associated with increased risk of abuse. Community-based prevention efforts should be aimed at this population.