Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of domestic violence among women attending primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in the Al-Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional web-based study was conducted. A QR-coded questionnaire was produced in Arabic from the original resource and used to collect women’s demographic data, family information, medical histories, and violence-related data.
Results: A total of 395 eligible women completed the survey, ranging in age from 18 to 64 years with a mean age of 30.5 ± 10.1 years old. A total of 222 (56.2%) were married, the most significant plurality (n = 86, 38.7%) for less than 10 years. A total of 61 (15.4%) reported being exposed to emotional abuse, 30 (7.6%) to physical abuse, and 77 (19.5%) to both physical and emotional abuse. Two-thirds of divorced women reported having been exposed to some type of domestic abuse versus 40.1% of married women, with a recorded statistical significance (p = 0.046). Also, 72.7% of those with highly educated fathers were exposed to domestic violence, compared to 34.2% of those whose fathers had only a secondary level of education (p = 0.041).
Conclusion: The current study evaluated emotional and physical violence as the primary forms of domestic abuse that are highly prevalent among women who visit PHCs. The majority of recorded cases of violence were moderate, had little effect on their life, and required little assistance or medical advice.

Key words: Domestic violence, prevalence, women, factors associated, Saudi Arabia