Gender‐based violence: a study of Iraqi women

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine and analyse the incidence of violence against women in Iraq. Until recently, gender‐based violence has been viewed in this country as a private or family matter. Nevertheless, there gradually has been a shift in thinking in the past few years on this phenomenon, and it is now viewed as both a public health problem and a violation of human rights. As a first step toward understanding this problem, the authors conducted an experimental analysis of women in Iraq, focusing on gender‐based violence. The results show that violence against women is principally carried out by their husbands and by brothers. The article explains the reasons behind this violent behaviour by analysing a sample survey of 1,000 women and 100 men. The findings show that gender‐based violence is a prevalent medical and social problem in Iraq that requires prompt and in‐depth intervention so as to prevent or at least control it. This study was undertaken in order to understand the possible solutions to prevent gender‐based violence and to change the accepted norms of gender‐based social roles and social tolerance.

Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the Arab Countries: A Systematic Review of Risk Factors

“…After the title–abstract screening of 1,122 studies, full-text screening of the remaining 164 studies took place for assessing eligibility. Finally, 30 studies were included and reviewed (Akmatov et al, 2008; Al-Badayneh, 2012; Al-Faris et al, 2013; Ali et al, 2014; Alsaleh, 2015; Al-Tawil, 2012; Alzahrani et al, 2016; Barnawi, 2017; Clark et al, 2010; Clark, Hill, et al, 2009; Clark, Silverman, et al, 2009; Eldoseri et al, 2014; Fageeh, 2014; Guimei et al, 2012; Haj-Yahia, 2000a; Haj-Yahia & Clark, 2013; Hammoury & Khawaja, 2007; Hammoury et al, 2009; Jellali & Jellali, 2015; Karadsheh & Al-Khatatneh, 2007; Lafta et al, 2009; Lenze & Klasen, 2016; Manoudi et al, 2013; Maziak & Asfar, 2003; Okour & Badarneh, 2011; Oweis et al, 2010; Safadi et al, 2018; Shiraz, 2016; Sousa & Haj-Yahia, 2015; Tashkandi & Rasheed, 2010).…”

“…Seven of the included studies were conducted in Saudi Arabia (Al-Faris et al, 2013; Alzahrani et al, 2016; Barnawi, 2017; Eldoseri et al, 2014; Fageeh, 2014; Shiraz, 2016; Tashkandi & Rasheed, 2010), followed by eight studies in Jordan (Al-Badayneh, 2012; Clark, Hill, et al, 2009; Clark, Silverman, et al, 2009; Karadsheh & Al-Khatatneh, 2007; Lenze & Klasen, 2016; Okour & Badarneh, 2011; Oweis et al, 2010; Safadi et al, 2018); four studies in the Palestinian Territory (i.e., Gaza and the West Bank; Clark et al, 2010; Haj-Yahia, 2000a; Haj-Yahia & Clark, 2013; Sousa & Haj-Yahia, 2015); two studies in Egypt (Akmatov et al, 2008; Guimei et al, 2012), Syria (Alsaleh, 2015; Maziak & Asfar, 2003), and Lebanon (Hammoury & Khawaja, 2007; Hammoury et al, 2009); and one study in Sudan (Ali et al, 2014), the Kurdistan region in Iraq, Iraq (Lafta et al, 2009), Tunisia (Jellali & Jellali, 2015), and Morocco (Manoudi et al, 2013). Although all of the included studies investigated VAW, in which the perpetrators were their current or former intimate partners, various terms were used to describe this violence, that is, DV, IPV, VAW, wife beating/wife abuse/-and battering, family violence, spousal violence, gender-based violence, and intimate partner abuse.…”

“…As for the data collection settings, 11 studies were conducted in nonclinical settings. Studies conducted at universities utilized convenience sampling (Karadsheh & Al-Khatatneh, 2007), whereas household-based studies used representative populations (Akmatov et al, 2008; Al-Badayneh, 2012; Ali et al, 2014; Alsaleh, 2015; Clark et al, 2010; Haj-Yahia, 2000a; Haj-Yahia & Clark, 2013; Lafta et al, 2009; Lenze & Klasen, 2016; Shiraz, 2016). Sixteen studies were conducted in clinical settings, which are not necessarily representative of the general population.…”

“…Twenty studies scored high risk of bias (Al-Faris et al, 2013; Al-Tawil, 2012; Alzahrani et al, 2016; Barnawi, 2017; Clark, Silverman, et al, 2009; Eldoseri et al, 2014; Fageeh, 2014; Guimei et al, 2012; Hammoury & Khawaja, 2007; Hammoury et al, 2009; Jellali & Jellali, 2015; Karadsheh & Al-Khatatneh, 2007; Lafta et al, 2009; Manoudi et al, 2013; Maziak & Asfar, 2003; Okour & Badarneh, 2011; Oweis et al, 2010; Safadi et al, 2018; Sousa & Haj-Yahia, 2015; Tashkandi & Rasheed, 2010), while 10 studies scored low risk of bias (Akmatov et al, 2008; Al-Badayneh, 2012; Ali et al, 2014; Alsaleh, 2015; Clark et al, 2010; Clark, Hill, et al, 2009; Haj-Yahia, 2000a; Haj-Yahia & Clark, 2013; Lenze & Klasen, 2016; Shiraz, 2016). Twenty studies employed some form of random sampling and 23 studies had a nonresponse rate ≤30%.…”

The plight of women in Iraq: Gender disparity, violence, and mental health

“…In her study on a sample of 500 women >18 years attending the Primary Health Care Clinics in Mosel 2012, Al-Nuaimi (2013) found that all of them experienced at least one type of community violence, and 23% lost their husbands or close family members, and 2% live in factories and schools. Lafta et al (2008), in their study on 1,000 women in Baghdad and Mosel 2005/2006, found that (36.7%, 30.1%, 9.6%, and 7.6%) of them were subjected to psychological, verbal, financial, and physical community and domestic violence, respectively. Lafta and Falah (2019) revealed that 65% of 323 junior doctors in Baghdad's hospitals had been exposed to violence with a male to female ratio (55.1%, 44.9%).…”