Baloushah S, Maasoumi R, Farahani FK, Khadoura KJ, Elsous A. Intimate partner violence against Palestinian women in Gaza strip: Prevalence and correlates.
J Family Med Prim Care 2019;
8:3621-3626. [PMID:
31803663 PMCID:
PMC6881945 DOI:
10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_498_19]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Context:
Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects gravely the victims and is resulting in negative physical and psychological consequences.
Aims:
This paper aimed to determine the prevalence of IPV against women in Gaza strip and associated factors. Moreover, to explore women's seeking behaviors to help.
Settings and Design:
Cross-sectional study.
Methods and Materials:
Community internet-based survey was conducted using the Heart Insult Threat Scout questionnaire and the reporting behavior of respondent to violence act.
Statistical Analysis Used:
A number of 517 ever married women responded and data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software version 23.
Results:
About 517 women participated. Of which, 23% (119/517) reported exposure to any types of IPV. Multivariate logistic regression showed factors associated with IPV were as follows: husbands who are drug user (OR = 27.577, CI95%: 5.153–147.591; P < 0.001), husband exposure to violence in childhood (OR = 9.174, CI95%: 4.753–7.727; P > 0.001), and family with a special needs child (OR = 2.956, CI95%: 1.131–8.607; P < 0.05). Approximately, two-thirds of the victims tended to keep silent toward violence and dealt with it as a private and family issue; hence, they hesitated to communicate with others or seek any help to protect themselves.
Conclusions:
About 23% from the study participants experience violence in their life time. Factors associated with IPV are husband's drug abuse, having a child with special needs, and husband's childhood experience of violence. Qualitative researches are needed to understand the women experience to violence and sociocultural barrier for disclosure.
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