Alcohol-related domestic violence in households with children: Analysis of protection order records in Lithuania

Abstract

Aim: A police-initiated domestic violence protection order is a preventive measure aimed at protecting individuals of the same household against the risk of domestic violence. The aim of this study is to examine the role of alcohol intoxication in domestic violence incidents in households with children, and identify factors associated with the application of police-initiated protection orders.

Data and Methods: The authors have analysed police records of domestic violence interventions in Lithuania from July 2023 until February 2024 (n = 20,010). The analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression.

Results: It was established that police-initiated domestic violence protection orders were issued in 70.1% of the analysed police records, whereas 46.7% of the cases involved an alcohol-intoxicated person who posed a risk of domestic violence to others. Furthermore, 26.5% of interventions involving domestic violence were carried out in households with children. Among households with children, the majority of individuals posing a risk of domestic violence to others while being intoxicated were men (85.2%, p < 0.01). The average blood alcohol concentration of intoxicated individuals was 0.23% (SD = 0.08). By applying the multivariable logistic regression model, the criteria of alcohol intoxication (OR = 4.08 CI[3.44, 4.84]), male gender (OR = 3.56; CI[3.00, 4.24]), history of domestic violence over the past 24 months (OR = 6.09; CI[4.97, 7.46]), and the presence of a child during the incident (OR = 8.38; CI[6.83, 10.29]) were independently associated with a higher likelihood of the issuance of a police-initiated domestic violence protection order.

Conclusion: In practice, the findings have revealed that alcohol consumption and male violence are important factors to consider when devising long-term strategies to prevent domestic violence.