Injury update, 08/31/2012

              *The INJURY UPDATE is a publication of the Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department of Health.
This and other IPS information may be obtained from the Injury Prevention Service, Oklahoma State Department
of Health, 1000 N.E. 10th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73117, 405-271-3430 or 1-800-522-0204 (in Oklahoma).
IPS publications are also available at http://ips.health.ok.gov
August 31, 2012
Intimate Partner Violence-related Deaths in Oklahoma
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a health
concern for both men and women across the U.S.
In 2010, an estimated 7.0 million women and 5.7
million men in the U.S. were victims of IPV. In
2007, an estimated 1,640 females and 700 males
died in IPV- related incidents. In 2009,
Oklahoma ranked 11th among states in the U.S. in
the number of females killed by males in single-victim/
single-offender homicides. For this report,
data from two surveillance systems, the
Oklahoma Violent Death Reporting System and
the Oklahoma IPV Surveillance System were
combined to examine IPV-related homicide
incidents in Oklahoma from 1999-2008. Data
were collected from death certificates, medical
examiner reports, police reports, medical records,
and Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board
records. Cases included all persons who died in
homicide incidents where one intimate partner killed another.
From 1999-2008, 442 persons died in IPV-related
homicide incidents. Decedents included
326 intimate partner victims, 31 bystanders, and
85 perpetrators who committed suicide. On
average there were 44 deaths annually. The
highest number of deaths occurred in 1999 at 59
and the lowest number occurred in 2000 at 28
(Figure 1).
Fifty-one percent (224) of persons were killed in
single homicides, 42% (186) were killed in
homicide-suicides, and 7% (32) were killed in
multiple homicides (Figure 2).
Forty-two percent (186) of persons who died
were males and 58% (256) were females. Forty-three
percent (80) of males and 2% (5) of
Multiple
homicide 7%
Homicide/
Suicide 42%
Single
homicide 51%
Figure 2. IPV-related Deaths by Incident Type,
Oklahoma, 1999-2008
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Number of Deaths
Year
Figure 1. IPV-related Deaths* by Year,
Oklahoma, 1999-2008
Victims Bystanders Perp Suicides
*Includes 326 intimate partner victims, 31 bystanders, and 85 perpetrators who
committed suicide.