Domestic violence on women by their husbands in Gadap town, Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: An important component of domestic violence, often ignored is the realm of passive abuse, leading to violence. Passive abuse is covert, subtle and veiled. This includes victimization, procrastination, forgetfulness, and ambiguity, and neglect, spiritual and intellectual abuse. Objectives of the study were to assess the type and magnitude of domestic violence inflicted on women by their husbands in Gadap town Karachi and to determine the factors perpetuating domestic violence among women in Gadap town, Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study , was conducted in Gadap town Karachi from Nov ,1 ,2010 to March 1 ,2011 . A total of100 married /separated / divorced, females aged between 20 to 50 years were interviewed and pre-designed questionnaires were filled. Results: A total of 100 women were included in the study. About 93 % women reported that their husbands quarrel with them. The main issue that flare their husbands was money (65%). 11 percent of the participants reported participation of in-laws. Positive answers to threats and abuses were given by 95% of the women interviewed where as 5% gave negative answer. Frequency of abuse was recorded as often in 85%, where as it was occasional in 15%.Being shouted/yelled by their husband was the most common phenomenon of violence. Eighty six percent reported physical violence and non-consensual sex was found in 56%. Conclusions: Domestic violence is prevalent in Pakistan at an alarming rate. Women are the sufferers and are subjected to physical, psychological and sexual abuse in their home by partners and in-laws. The factors associated with domestic violence in Pakistan are low-economic status of women, lack of awareness about women rights, lack of education, falsified beliefs, imbalanced empowerment issues between males and females and male dominant social structure.