PREVALENCE OF DOMESTIC VOILENCE AMONG WOMEN SEEKING ABORTION

Objective: To determine the prevalence of domestic violence in women seeking abortion. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted in outpatient department of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, family planning Centre, Marie Stoop’s society Peshawar and a private clinic from April 2012 to March 2013. Approval was taken from the ethical committee of the hospital before starting the study. A Proforma made and women seeking induced abortion that volunteered to answer the questions were included in the study. Confidentiality was maintained to avoid potential retaliation from disclosure. Results: Domestic violence was reported by 40 (38.9%) women out of 105 women seeking induced abortion, who were interviewed consecutively. Majority of them were in stable relationship being married for more than a year (n=38, 95%). Physical sexual violence both were reported by 10 (25%) women each while all three types of violence i.e., verbal; physical; and sexual, were reported by 16 (40%) women. Domestic violence was reported more in spouses with lower educational status (n=22, 55%). Violence by intimate partner was reported in 23 (57.5%) and by other family members in 7 (17.5%) cases. Conclusion: More than one third of the women of the sample were faced with the problem of domestic violence. Level of education was inversely related to domestic violence as it was reported more in spouses with lower educational status.