Domestic violence against women in west of Iran: the prevalence and related factors
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare
ISSN: 2056-4902
Article publication date: 31 July 2019
Issue publication date: 25 October 2019
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine the prevalence of domestic violence against women and its related factors in Sanandaj, west of Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a cross-sectional study conducted in 2016. The sample consisted of 360 women who referred to two educational hospitals in Sanandaj. The data collection tool was a self-report questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors of domestic violence against women.
Findings
The prevalence of “any form of violence” in the past year was 71 percent (n=245). The prevalence of emotional, sexual and physical violence was 62.2 percent (n=225), 48.7 percent (n=168) and 49.9 percent (n=172), respectively. Multivariate logistic regressions revealed that the “any form of violence” has significant association with occupation of women, economic status of family and the status of sexual satisfaction of couples.
Originality/value
The prevalence of domestic violence against women is high and alarming in Sanandaj, Iran. Given the relationship between experience of violence and sexual dissatisfaction, sexual education before and after marriage is recommended for couples. Also, the experience of exposure to violence in women can be included in health centers as screening programs. In this way, couples who have risk factors will receive the educational programs.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This paper is extracted from a doctoral dissertation for obtaining a degree in general medicine which was approved by the Kurdistan University of Medical Science under file number 267-1394.
Citation
Afkhamzadeh, A., Azadi, N.-A., Ziaeei, S. and Mohamadi-Bolbanabad, A. (2019), "Domestic violence against women in west of Iran: the prevalence and related factors", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. 12 No. 5, pp. 364-372. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-12-2018-0080
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited