Socio-cultural contexts of domestic violence against women: A qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Violence against women is a problem that is closely correlated with the social and cultural contexts and many societies in different aspects encounter this problem. The aim of this study was to explore socio-cultural factors of violence against women. Methods: This study was a qualitative content analysis. The semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 women as the victims of domestic violence. Purposive sampling was initiated and continued until data saturation. The collected data analyzed using a qualitative content analysis. Results: Seven themes were explored of the women, which represented their experiences of social-cultural factors influencing on violence against women. The themes included: the failure of masculine authority, lack of social life skills, addiction, inappropriate marriage, fake friend, powerlessness, and irrational beliefs. Conclusion: Social and cultural factors are effective in the destruction of the family life through domestic violence. The community education, to develop the real position of the family and women situation in Islam, women empowerment, marriage problem solving methods, and family management skills needed to prevent and to control the violence against women.