An Evidence-Based Glance at Domestic Violence Phenomenon in Early Marriages: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Objectives: Teenage marriage results in social, cultural, and economic problems including domestic violence. Based on research evidence, the present study attempted to provide a documentary image of domestic violence in early marriages. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted by searching different databases such as Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PubMed, Scientific Information Database, Google Scholar, Magiran, Irandoc, and Iranmedex for articles which were published during 2000-2018. To this end, MeSH keywords like "dating violence", "intimate partner violence (IPV)", "teenage marriage", and "domestic violence" were utilized and thus a total of 176 articles were obtained and selected for review. Finally, the "Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations" (GRADE) approach was used to order the quality of evidence. Results: Based on the findings, the general prevalence of domestic violence varies from 7% to 48% in the world and from 10.7% to 93% in Iran. IPV is more prevalent in younger women and psychological and physical violence is higher in this group. In addition, the prevalence of domestic violence in pregnancy varies from 2% to 43.5%. Women experience more violence in three months prepregnancy, during the first six months of pregnancy, and three months after childbirth. During pregnancy, domestic violence is related to the complications of preterm labor, low birth weight, vaginal bleeding, and hospitalization. Eventually, depression, panic attacks, excessive alcohol use, eating disorders, and suicidal thoughts are mental health disorders resulted from domestic violence. Conclusions: Overall, young women are the sacrifice of violence in their most active years of life, which is along with the most harm in society concerning health, economics, cultural, and social issues.Considering its high rate, teenage marriage can be prevented by increasing public awareness and the cooperation of related organizations.

Associations of marital quality and sexual satisfaction in women with early marriage in Iran: a descriptive-correlational study

“…The results of a study consistent with our study indicated that marital satisfaction among students with early marriages was moderate [34]. Another study reported that with early marriage in the golden years of life, young women would become victims of violence, causing the most damage [35]. Chauhan et al's study in India showed that men belonging to high-income families were more satis ed with their marriages.…”

Reflections of the after processes in early and forced marriages: A meta‐synthesis study

“…(Sezgin & Punamäki, 2020). Low level of education of women, lack of economic independence, and getting married at an early age are the main reasons that increase violence (Sattarzadeh et al, 2019). Marital conflicts, economic problems, unemployment for more than 6 months, and negative life experiences in the last 12 months are risk factors for the development of depression (Fakhari et al, 2020).…”

Investigating the relationship between socioeconomic status and domestic violence against women in Isfahan, Iran in 2021: A cross‐sectional study

“…16 In there has been an increase in violence in some cases, a decrease in violence in others, and no connection with violence in some cases. 17 As can be seen from the studies, the majority of these studies have investigated the various dimensions of violence and the consequences associated with it, while an aspect related to the socioeconomic index has not been investigated. 18 The socioeconomic status of the household is regarded as one of the most important variables influencing domestic violence.…”

“…In reviewing the research done in Iran on this subject, various factors have been found to be effective in relation to domestic violence and in reducing or increasing it, such as increasing age, 14 higher education for women, 15 and female employment 16 . In there has been an increase in violence in some cases, a decrease in violence in others, and no connection with violence in some cases 17 …”