Nearly one half of women who are about to experience a threat to

their lives at the hands of a boyfriend or husband may not realize

they are in danger, according to new research. The findings are the

result of a nationwide study conducted by researchers at the Oregon

Health and Science University in Portland in an attempt to curtail

domestic abuse.

According to the report, a look back at warning signs for 30

women who survived an attempted homicide by an intimate partner

revealed that 14 did not know their lives were at risk and said

they were “completely surprised” by the attack. Also notable is the

fact that most attacks occurred around the time women tried to end

the relationship. And while nearly all women had experienced

previous episodes of abuse and violence from their partners, not

all instances had been severe.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Christina Nicolaidis of OHSU, said

that these findings suggest that, in some cases, the warning signs

that a woman’s life is in danger may be difficult to read.

“If I had talked to some of these women before the attack, I

would have counseled them about the domestic violence, but I would

not have necessarily felt that their lives were in danger,”

Nicolaidis said. “Now I am more careful to warn any woman who has

experienced intimate partner violence about the risk to her life,

especially around the time that the relationship is ending.”

According to the Madison Police Department, women who plan on

leaving an abusive or troubling relationship should consider safety

planning their top concern. The department’s website states: “If

you are choosing to take legal action, please remember to take

careful steps to keep yourself and your children safe. A legal

protective order is helpful, but it is not always enough to keep

you safe.”

The MPD also stated that women should always tell at least one

other person of any abuse or unhealthy behavior prior to leaving,

as well as keep a journal of any or all incidents of abuse

including time, dates, events and threats made, if possible.

In the OHSU study, Nicolaidis and her colleagues noted that

homicide is the leading cause of death among African-American women

between the ages of 15 and 34, and up to half of all women who are

murdered are killed by an intimate partner.

The study was conducted through interviews of 30 women between

the ages of 17 and 54 who had survived an attempted homicide by

their current or former boyfriends or husbands.

All but two of the women had experienced episodes of violence or

controlling behavior, such as stalking or preventing them from

going anywhere alone, from the man who tried to kill them.

And while 22 of the homicide attempts occurred while the women

were trying to end their relationships, most women said they were

breaking up for reasons other than violence.

According to Josh Cutler, a senior at the University of

Wisconsin and former women’s self-defense instructor, the main

thing to keep in mind when under attack is to remain calm.

“If you can retain your composure, then you’re at an advantage,”

he said. “What we try to teach in self-defense classes is that most

women are going to be overpowered by their attacker, so they need

to concentrate on creating space, time and an escape path.”

Common areas of target include the eyes, throat and groin of an

attacker, Cutler said, and as a second-best option, go after the

fingers and wrists because they are easily accessible.

According to Nicolaidis, classic risk factors for an attempted

homicide by an intimate partner include escalating episodes or

severity of violence, threats with or use of weapons, alcohol or

drug use, and violence toward children. While every woman included

in the report experienced at least one of these standard signs,

they were clearly not all “classic” cases, she added.

Local resources for women at risk include Dane County

Violence Unit, 284-6880.