A POPULATION-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY ON PHYSICAL INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AFFECTING OLDER WOMEN IN A PROVINCE OF NORTHERN TURKEY: PREVALENCE, ASSOCIATED FACTORS, AND INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION OF VIOLENCE

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of physical intimate partner violence among older women, identify factors associated with victimization, and gather information on the intergenerational transmission of violence. Materials and Method: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Karabuk Province and included 399 ever-married women aged 65 years and older. The dependent variable was exposure to physical violence by a current or former spouse. Independent variables included women’s sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics, their experience of violence in childhood, and some characteristics of their husbands and parents. The crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated to explore the relationship between the dependent and independent variables using robust Poisson regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of physical intimate partner violence was 62.9% for the lifetime and 7.6% for the past year. Lifetime prevalence increased 1.2-fold with low household income, 1.4-fold with seven or more pregnancies, 1.3-fold with daily or weekly alcohol consumption by the husband, 1.3-fold with witnessing father-to-mother violence in childhood, and 1.5-fold with experiencing physical violence by parents in childhood. Women were more likely to use violence against their children if they had experienced violence in childhood and adulthood. Conclusion: This study’s finding of high lifetime and past-year prevalence of exposure to intimate partner violence highlights the need for more efforts to address intimate partner violence among older women. More research is needed to better understand older women’s experiences of intimate partner violence and identify health and social policy approaches to meet their support and assistance needs. Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence; Domestic Violence, Physical Abuse; Prevalence; Aged; Women.