Introduction: A study of women exposed to violence in Aarhus is presented for the fourth time in 18 years with special focus on domestic violence and violence against immigrant women. Material and method: Dynamic cohorte study from 1 st of April 1999 to 31 st of March 2000. Women examined at the casualty wards or at the Department of Forensic Medicine at the University of Aarhus after a violent episode were included. Police data and results from the three former studies were included. Results: 312 women were registred. The annual incidence rate of all violence (2.3), domestic violence (0.9) and the character and severity of the violence is unchanged since 1993-1994. Immigrant women were registred significantly more often and showed a different violence pattern from Danish women. Discussion: Domestic violence still constitutes 40% of all violence against women. Knowing the physical and mental impact of violence the need for not only tertiary but also primary intervention increases. Immigrant women exposed to violence are vulnerable and anonymous. They need specific information, counselling and help.

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statistical analysis vulnerable population immigrant register mental health human Cohort Studies middle aged Denmark violence controlled study Aged Spouse Abuse patient counseling forensic medicine Humans Adolescent Domestic Violence female police Incidence Article major clinical study adult cohort analysis Emigration and Immigration disease severity femininity