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Published on November 19, 2007

A Public Health Ministry report shows 216,037 victims required hospital treatment following attacks and 3,086 died as a result of injuries sustained.

"When compared with 2002, the number of victims rose by 30 per cent and the number of deaths rose by 20 per cent," ministry permanent secretary Prat Boonyawong-virot said yesterday.

Quoting the ministry's epidemiology bureau, which gathered data from 24 hospitals across the country, he said men were six to seven times more likely to be victims of violence.

Most will be working class and attacked between Fridays and Sundays.

"Sharp objects are the most common weapons used in attacks," Prat said, adding that 59 per cent of victims were drinking at the time.

Prat said emergency medical assistance was available free and could be summoned by calling the 1669 24-hour hotline.

The same hotline can be called in the event of abuse to women or children.

Currently, 98 hospitals have specific units for female and child victims.

Health Service Support Department director-general Supachai Kunaratanapruk said the number of female and child victims seeking assistance from these units rose to 13,550 last year, or about 37 a day.

"In 2004, 6,951 victims came to these units," he said.

Supachai said abusers were mostly husbands and other family members, and the main cause was drinking and drug abuse.

He said most female victims were physically assaulted and most children sexually abused.

November is the month of the department's campaign to halt violence against women and children. It holds a seminar on the subject tomorrow.

The Nation