Violence against women: prevalence and associated factors in patients attending a public healthcare service in the Northeast of Brazil

Abstract

The prevalence of and factors associated with violence against women attended as outpatients between October 2005 and January 2006 by the Instituto Materno Infantil Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, were investigated using a cross-sectional type study. 619 women over the age of 18 were included in a systematic probabilistic sample. The modified Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) was applied and the data were evaluated statistically by way of univariate and bivariate analyses, using the chi2 or Fischer's exact test and an adjusted multivariate logistic regression model. The prevalence of violence against women was 27.5% (95%CI: 24.0%-31.2%) in the twelve-month period prior to the consultation. The associated factors were low level of schooling (OR = 2.34), a history of domestic violence (OR = 2.21) the woman being mentally disturbed (OR = 2.35), and the partner's consumption of alcohol (OR = 1.77). The prevalence of violence was high in the group of women studied, indicating the need to broaden preventive measures and all-round health care for women.