Domestic Violence Among Women Attending Primary Health Care Centers: Effect on Their Mental and Physical Well-Being, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract Background Domestic violence (DV) is a global public health issue and a violation of human rights, affecting one-third of women worldwide. DV survivors often face long-term physical, mental, and psychological health consequences but struggle to disclose such incidents for cultural, personal, or institutional reasons. This study aimed to assess the impact of DV on the well-being of Saudi women attending National Guard Primary Health Care centers. Methods A cross-sectional study in the National Guard Primary Health Care Clinics in the western region of Saudi Arabia was conducted from 2022 to 2023. A convenient sampling method was used. The study employed the Norvold Domestic Abuse Questionnaire (NorAQ) to measure the extent of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse among women. In total, 1813 female participants between the ages of 14 and 65 years who met the inclusion criteria were included, and they completed the questionnaire. SPSS (Statistical Package Social Sciences) version 24.0 was used to analyze the data. Results The study included 1813 Saudi women with a mean age of 32.2 years. A significant association (p < 0.05) was found between different types of abuse and poor overall health. Women who reported psychological abuse were 56% less likely to report good health than those who did not experience psychological abuse. Similarly, physically abused women were 52% less likely to have good health, while sexually abused women were 41% less likely to report good health. The study also showed a significant association between psychological abuse and depression, insomnia, and feelings of carelessness, with odds ratios of 4.34, 3.22, and 3.37, respectively. Additionally, physical abuse was significantly linked to increased hospital visits, the need for psychological help, depression, and insomnia, with odds ratios of 1.31, 2.78, 3.32, and 2.61, respectively. Furthermore, the study identified a significant association between sexual abuse and the need for psychological help, depression, insomnia, and feelings of carelessness, with odds ratios of 1.82, 2.42, 1.73, and 2.69, respectively. Conclusion Raising public awareness about the adverse effects of abuse on women's physical and mental well-being is crucial. Additionally, it is essential to provide primary care physicians with adequate training to identify and address cases of abuse effectively.