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Citation
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Ruiz Peña M, González Peña MJ, López Álvarez JM, Iglesias Hernández MI, Barros Rubio C, González Amaya S, Fernández Crespo T. Semergen 2010; 36(4): 202-207. |
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Abstract
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Objectives
To estimate the prevalence of abuse of women attending health care centers in Algeciras, to assess the sociodemographic factors associated with abuse and to establish the abuser profile of our area.Design
A descriptive and cross-sectional study.Setting
The study was conducted in primary care in four health care centers in Algeciras.Subjects
We selected 113 women by consecutive sampling who had come alone or accompanied by a child under four years to the primary care doctor's consultation. Their ages ranged from 20 to 70 years, with a partner in the last year, who understood the Spanish language and who agreed to participate in the study.Methodology
The study was performed by means of a heteroadministered questionnaire that had a validated scale regarding abuse and other sociodemographic characteristics. These questionnaires were filled out in a private room, and were deposited in a mailbox, thus ensuring anonymity.Results
We detected abuse in 32.4% (CI 95%: 24.9-40.5) of those surveyed. Battered women have an average age of 44.37±15 years, and 28.5 % (CI 95%: 16.3-43.6) are housewives, 65.7% (CI 95%: 50.4-78.8) married, 45.7% (CI 95%: 31.1-60.8) have two children and 42.8% (CI 95%: 28.5-58) have primary education, have Spanish nationality and belong to professional group 2. The partner has a mean age of 46.70±15 years, stable work in 56.6% of the cases (CI 95%: 40.1-72.1) and with primary education in 37.9% (CI 95%: 22.9-54.8). We did not find significant differences between the groups of battered women in regards to age, education level, employment status and occupation.Conclusions
Almost one third of women surveyed had suffered some form of violence from their partner. More studies are needed to identify its causes and to design effective measures against it. |