European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PREVALENCE, TYPES AND AFFECTED AGE GROUPS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST MARRIED WOMEN IN ELOBEIED, SUDAN

Dr. Kubra Ali Ebrahim Hammad and *Dr. Mohammed Ismail Humaida

ABSTRACT

Domestic violence has become a very widespread phenomenon, all around the world, it has immediate effects women’s health, which in some cases, is fatal. In Sudan the studies in domestic violence were limited, one study carried out by Awad 2004 reveal that the prevalence of domestic violence was 41.6%. This crosscetional analytic community based study was carried out in Elobeid Town, North Kordofan State, Sudan. The study aims to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence among married women, to determine the more affected age group, and to find out the most common types of violence against women. Data were collected with pretested questionnaire and focus group discussion. Stratified random sample technique was used to fulfill the objectives of this study. Sample size of 384 married women in their household was chosen using the formula n = (z2 p q /d2). The women provided data on sociodemographic characteristics and abuse by the husband. Univariate and multivariate analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 15 (SPSS). Abused was reported by 350 married women( 91%) who experienced all types of domestic violence in their lifetime, classified into controlling behavior reported by 286 women (74.5%), threatening behavior reported by181 women (47.1) and physical violence reported by 154 (40.1%).The more affected age group were in age35-45 (31.8%). The main reasons of violence include, financial (64.2%), conflict with husband’s relatives (45.4%), refuse sex by wife (44.9%), go out home without permission(40.4%). Common reactions reported by the women included try to stop violence (51.1%), tell the relatives (53.1%), tell the friends (34%), and tell the neighbors (29.7%). The study recommended that, Awareness raising of the community about domestic violence and culture of silence on domestic violence should be eliminated through continuous sensitization and empowerment.

Keywords: domestic violence, prevalence, types.