Interpersonal Violence (IPV) includes consensual violence (e.g. street fights), non-consensual violence (e.g. “muggings”), and injuries obtained as a result of intentional harm from gunshots. IPV does not include sports injuries, unintentional firearm discharges, or self-inflicted injuries. In regard to this study, it is important to note that only injuries resulting in hospitalization are included, so patients that die en route to the hospital are not counted. Furthermore, only patients hospitalized at BC Trauma Centres are incorporated into this study. The raw injury data used in this report is from the timeframe of 2001 to 2008. From this data, 13 major IPV hotspots were located within the Metro-Vancouver area.
Certain physical features of the built environment in past studies have been correlated with high rates of interpersonal violence (IPV) causing serious injury. More detailed information regarding these past studies can be found in the background section. While not entirely physical, socioeconomic status was found to have the strongest correlation of incidences of IPV.
Combined with medical expenses, the economic losses due to perceived danger in a neighborhood with high IPV, and seriously injured people being unable to work for significant lengths of time, a safer built environment can greatly increase our nation’s productivity and standard of living.
Please navigate to the links below for detailed information regarding the attributes studied and the findings discovered at the 13 locations visited regarding IPV.