Domestic violence against women in Shiraz, South-western Iran

BACKGROUND: Domestic violence against women can lead to short and long term health-related issues. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of domestic violence against married women and its correlates in southwestern, Iran. METHODS: A population-based survey was carried out from February 1st to May 30th, 2018 in Shiraz, Iran. Currently married or recently separated/divorced women who visited healthcare centers were voluntarily interviewed. World Health Organization (WHO) standard domestic violence questionnaire was used to measure domestic violence. Hence, its prevalence and correlates were assessed. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence of overall, mental, physical, and sexual domestic violence were 54.5% (95% CI: 49.6, 59.4), 52.0% (95% CI: 47.1, 57.0), 18.2 % (95% CI: 14.4, 22.0) and 14.0 % (95% CI: 10.6, 17.4), respectively. Living separately, increasing spouse’s age, the higher number of children, rental housing, middle to low monthly income, and history of domestic violence in the family of husband and/or wife had a positive correlation with domestic violence in some categories. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the married women in southwestern Iran are experiencing domestic violence, and mental domestic violence is the most common type. Economic instability and witnessing domestic violence in childhood are the most correlates of domestic violence. Family violence preventive services and other population-based measures are highly necessary for this region.