PREVALENCE AND HEALTH CONSEQUANCES OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AMONG EVER-MARRIED WOMEN ATTENDING PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS IN ADEN, YEMEN

Abstract

Intimate Partner Violence is a public health issue that causes devastating consequences on women's physical, mental, and social well-being. This study sought to investigate the prevalence of intimate partner violence among ever-married and its consequences on women’s health. A facility-based cross-sectional design was conducted from July to September 2023, the study targeted ever-married women aged 18 to 49 who attended Primary Health Care centers in four randomly selected districts in Aden governorate. Intimate Partner Violence and its health consequences on women were assessed using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire adapted from the Arabic-validated version of the World Health Organization (WHO) multi-country instrument on women’s health and domestic violence. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS 26.0. The study surveyed 404 ever-married women and reported that emotional violence was the most prevalent type, accounting for (67.1%) of participants, followed by physical violence (32.2%) and sexual violence (22.5%). The study found that women subjected to intimate partner physical violence faced significantly higher risks of various mental health problems, especially suicidal ideation (AOR=5.359), loss of self-esteem (AOR=4.220), and difficulty concentrating (AOR=3.107) while the least odd ratio is sadness (AOR= 2.660), along with physical symptoms like body aches, gastric pain, and high blood pressure (AOR=2.084), (AOR=1.689) and (AOR=1.944) respectively. While women exposed to intimate partner emotional violence faced significantly higher risks of mental health problems, with the highest risk being sadness (AOR=5.279), followed by loss of self-esteem (AOR = 4.694), sleeping difficulties (AOR=4.176), and difficulties concentrating (AOR=3.152), while the physical problems are gastric pain (AOR=4.922), general body aches (AOR=4.429) and elevated blood pressure (AOR=2.864). Moreover, the study found that women who experienced intimate partner sexual violence faced significantly increased risks of mental health, particularly suicidal ideations (AOR=5.046), sleeping difficulties (AOR=2.738), difficulties concentrating (AOR=2.145), and loss of self-esteem (AOR=2.040) along with physical problems which are elevated blood pressure (AOR=2.347), and general body ache (AOR = 2.174). In this study, the prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence was alarmingly high, with emotional violence being the most prevalent type. The results indicate significant physical and mental health consequences, underscoring the need for immediate action. Policymakers, healthcare providers, and community organizations must collaboratively strengthen preventive measures, awareness campaigns, and support services.