Racial and Ethnic Differences in Homicides of Adult Women and the Role of Intimate Partner Violence — United States, 2003–2014
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional surveillance registry analysis (by design analogy, not clinical CEBM)
OpenAlex W2737392969 · doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6628a1
What was done
The CDC analyzed National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) surveillance data for 10,018 female homicide victims aged 18 years or older across 18 US states from 2003 to 2014. Researchers assessed homicide rates across racial and ethnic groups and examined precipitating circumstances for homicides categorized as intimate partner violence (IPV)-related versus non-IPV-related.
What was found
Non-Hispanic Black women (4.4 per 100,000) and American Indian/Alaska Native women (4.3 per 100,000) experienced the highest homicide rates. Overall, 55.3% of female homicides were IPV-related. Among victims of IPV-related homicides, 11.2% experienced violence in the month preceding death, with argument and jealousy reported as common precipitating circumstances.
Why it matters
This study highlights severe racial and ethnic disparities in female homicide and shows that more than half of all adult female homicides in the surveyed states stem from intimate partner violence, pointing to critical windows for targeted IPV screening and intervention.
Limits
The data were restricted to 18 states participating in NVDRS during 2003–2014 and may not be nationally representative. The analysis relies on secondary law enforcement and coroner records, which may undercount prior violence or miss circumstantial details.
Cited by
- supports Approximately 2,500 women per year in the US are murdered by men.
- supports The majority of women who are murdered are killed by someone they know.