Peritraumatic distress associated with domestic violence

INTRODUCTION: The violence against women massively committed by their spouses is a scourge that transcends countries, ethnicities, cultures, classes social and age groups. This violence is traumatic and represents a serious attack on the physical integrity and mental health of the women who are victims OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence and predictors of peritraumatic distress among women victims of domestic violence METHODS: We contacted 122 women who consulted at the psychiatric emergency of ‘Hedi Chaker hospital’,Sfax examined in the context of medical expertise on the period between May 2021 until January 2022 A questionnaire regarding the violence was asked to responders .It included demographic and violence exposure questions and a scale applied during violence ‘Peritraumatic distress inventory’ RESULTS: The average age of women assaulted in our study was 35.6 ± 9.94 years (min=18,max=64). 78.7% (n=96) of ladies were of urban origin. The majority of them(44,3%) had secondary level education. The half of the population (51.6%) had an average socio-economic level. (86.1%) had children. 98.7%were victim of verbal violence,94.7% of physical violence, 97.3% of psychological violence and 54.7 %of sexual violence. 72.1% of women (N=88) developed peritraumatic distress related to the assault with a risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Women who were threatened by their spouses were more in distress than others (0,04). Physically abused women using a knife developed more peritraumatic distress (p=0,02). CONCLUSIONS: Domestic violence is a global public health problem, that calls for urgent actions.Peritraumatic distress linked to violence may lead to psychotraumatic disordersthat are the source for traumatized victims of great suffering mental health and a possible vital risk (suicide, risky behavior). DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST: None Declared