RHP&EO is the electronic journal of the International Union for Health Promotion and Education

Is Fear Of Violence An Acceptable Reason For Starting Safe Community Programs?

Ake Lindstrom, Leif Svanstrom

Skaraborg Institute, Dept Public Health, Skovde, Sweden and Karolinska Institutet, Dept International Health & Social Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden.

INTRODUCTION: There is a fast growing interest in treating injuries caused by violence as a public health problem and thus in starting public health programs. Such an approach immediately leads to the involvement of the health sector in the programs. No doubt, in many countries the number of injuries caused by violence are growing. Is that the reason for the growing interest for safety promotion? Or are fear of violence "caused by" media campaigns the actual reason for the interest? Can epidemiological studies help us here? The purpose of the presentation is to discuss the possibilities of using epidemiological studies as a foundation for planning interventions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Analyses were made based on a material from Skaraborg county in Sweden. 800 inhabitants, 20-64 years of age, in each of the seventeen municipalities of Skaraborg county were randomly selected.

RESULTS: 37 percent of women and three percent of men stated that they were afraid to go out. 20-34 years old showed higher prevalence of fear than other age-groups. Farmers showed the lowest prevalence, students the highest. Controlling socio-economic group and age in a logistic regression showed major differences between the municipalities; from 26 to 61 percent(females). These differences might be related to a local case where a 20 year old woman disappeared in circumstances most likely related to violence. This was taken up by the press. No doubt this has also been related to a growing interest for prevention of injuries caused by violence with the health sector as a basis.

CONCLUSIONS: These results leads to caution in generalising results from different geographical areas. But furthermore health and safety promotion staff should show a scientific approach to the actual phenomena, look at the epidemiology of injuries in general and those caused by violence in particular. That should form the professional basis for political priorities-also in local community health work.

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