Abstract
Objective:To assess the prevalence of domestic violence, associated risk factors, and its impacts on women’s mental health in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), Pakistan.Methods:This is a sequential explanatory strategy that is a mixed-method research design was conducted at Department of Behavioral Sciences, Karakoram International University Gilgit from January 2017 to June 2018 on 160 married women. Quantitative data were collected using Karachi domestic violence screening scale and mental health inventory and qualitative data were collected through interview guides. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were applied to analyze quantitative data while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results:Married women in GB reported higher levels of domestic violence (88.8%; psychological (69.4%), physical (37.5%) & sexual (21.2%). Abused women reported lower levels of mental health (t=3.19, p=0.00); psychological wellbeing (t=2.03, p=0.04), general positive affect (t=2.09, p=0.03), and life satisfaction (t=2.39, p=0.01) and higher levels of psychological distress (t=3.27, p=0.00), anxiety (t=3.06, p=0.00), depression (t=2.60, p=0.01), and loss of emotional/behavioral control (t=3.05, p=0.00) as compared to non-abused women. Risk factors behind domestic violence were identified as; poverty, the influence of in-laws, second marriage, stepchildren, forceful intimate relationships, husband’s irresponsibility, and addiction, and handicapped children.Conclusions:We found higher level of domestic violence, associated risk factors, and poor mental health of abused women in GB.
Highlights
Domestic violence as the supremacy exploited by one adult in a relationship to control another is not an argument, but the abuser uses physical and sexual violence, emotional offences, and economic denial against women.[1]
Another research conducted in Azad Kashmir, Pakistan that is more similar to GB from sociocultural perspective revealed that the psychological violence was found to be higher among women than physical violence.[16]
Similar findings are reported by researchers from Pakistani context where different types of domestic violence; physical, psychological, and sexual strongly associated with higher levels of negative states of mental health including depression, mental tension, and hysteria.[5,20]
Summary
Domestic violence as the supremacy exploited by one adult in a relationship to control another is not an argument, but the abuser uses physical and sexual violence, emotional offences, and economic denial against women.[1] It is a global issue, which is prevalent throughout nations, socioeconomic classes, cultures, and race.[1] According to the World Health Organization report, 35% women globally have experienced either physical and/ or sexual violence. Around one third of all women experienced either physical or sexual violence, and in some regions, the figure increased to 38%.2. Pak J Med Sci May - June 2020 Vol 36 No 4 www.pjms.org.pk 627 sexual violence only in 2010 was 7.2%. The highest prevalence was in African countries and lowest in Asian countries while limited data were available regarding Europe, Middle East, Asia pacific, and high-income countries.[3]
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