The Never-Ending Nightmare: Analysis of 435 Women Who Presented to the Emergency Department Due to Domestic Violence

Abstract

Violence against women is the violation of fundamental rights and freedoms, and is a crucial problem occurring as a result of inequal power relationship between women and men. Violence against women is continuing at same rates worldwide despite all efforts made to take preventive measures. The objective of this study was to retrospectively investigate characteristics of 435 women who presented to the emergency department with the complaint of violence. Study data were collected through the "Domestic Violence Against Women Registry" forms that consisted of 26 questions investigating sociodemographic features of the women victims of violence and characteristics related to the violence. Risk assessment of violence was carried out with 5 items that were answered as 'Yes' or 'No'. The forms were filled by healthcare staff with face-to-face interview technique. Majority of women victims of violence (n: 270) were primary school and middle school graduates. Of all participants, 399 (91.72%) were married and 307 (70.57%) were employed. The violence more commonly has occurred at home (89.66%). The most common type of violence was physical violence in 368 (84.60%) women. Women aged 30-40 years, those with a low level of education, a higher number of children, smokers and employed women were at a higher risk of being exposed to domestic violence. The education level of women should be increased. Emergency departments provide a good opportunity for clinicians to screen violence against women. With new measurement tools with proven reliability, a database can be created to guide policies and regulations to be made in future for prevention of violence against women.