Citation

Baloushah S, Maasoumi R, Farahani FK, Khadoura KJ, Elsous A. J. Family Med. Prim. Care 2019; 8(11): 3621-3626.

Affiliation

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Professions, Israa University, Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Medknow Publications)

DOI

10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_498_19

PMID

31803663

PMCID

PMC6881945

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.

Copyright: © 2019 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.

Language: en

Keywords

Gaza Strip; intimate partner violence; prevalence; women