Prediction of domestic violence against married women in southwestern Turkey

Objective

To determine the prevalence of, and independent risk factors for various domestic violence categories among married women of reproductive age in southwestern Turkey.

Methods

The present cross-sectional study included 260 randomly selected women registered to a family physician in the district of Gönen, Isparta. During home visits between October 1 and December 31, 2012, the women completed a questionnaire that included between four and eight questions for each violence category (physical, verbal, economic, emotional, and sexual) to assess the lifetime presence of domestic violence. Logistic regression models with backward elimination were constructed to define independent risk factors for domestic violence.

Results

In total, 176 (67.7%) women reported any type of domestic violence at least once in their lifetime. Verbal/psychological abuse was the most frequent type (reported by 121 46.5%] women). Living in a village, young age (19–29 years) of the husband, adolescent age (< 19 years) of the husband at marriage, and problem alcohol use or problem gambling in the partner were independent predictors of domestic violence.

Conclusion

Attention should be given to area of residence, age of both partners at marriage, adolescent marriage, and husband characteristics during screening for domestic violence.