Abolfotouh Mostafa A, Almuneef Maha
Research Training Academy, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
King Saud Bin-Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Womens Health. 2024 Nov 2;16:1829-1843. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S470919. eCollection 2024.
The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) is higher among women with lower social and economic status. Moreover, empowerment-focused interventions might not protect them from domestic abuse. This study assessed Saudi women's empowerment and its usefulness as a stand-alone IPV predictor.
400 married women, ages 19 to 65, who visited the outpatient clinics of PHC centers in Riyadh were interviewed using the Women's Empowerment module and the previously Arabic-validated version of the WHO multi-country instrument on Violence Against Women (VAW) to learn more about the beliefs of women regarding IPV and women's empowerment (in the decision-making process and the freedom to move). Logistic regression analysis was employed to identify the IPV predictors. At p<0.05, significance was established.
In terms of physical (18.5%), emotional (25.5%), sexual (19.2%), and economic (25.3%) violence, the lifetime overall IPV prevalence was 44.8%. 19.5% of all women said they had a negative attitude towards IPV. From 41.8% of women who reported a positive attitude towards violence to 45% and 56.8% among those who reported neutral and negative attitudes, respectively, the prevalence of IPV rose significantly (χ2 = 4.35, p = 0.037). Roughly one-third of women had no authority to make decisions (33%) or the freedom to move about (40.1%). When comparing empowered to non-empowered women, it was found that IPV was significantly less common in the decision-making process (30.1% versus 77%, χ2=74.91, p<0.001) and in the freedom to move (16.2% versus 27.7%, χ2=5.77, p=0.016). After adjusting for relevant confounders, women's empowerment was an independent predictor of IPV (OR=0.734, 95% CI: 0.63-0.85).
Women's empowerment is a strong predictor of IPV. Women who lack social and economic authority should receive assistance from the government. Advocacy initiatives that emphasize transforming cultural perceptions of violence and enabling women to participate in decision-making processes should be supported.
在社会经济地位较低的女性中，亲密伴侣暴力（IPV）的发生率更高。此外，以赋权为重点的干预措施可能无法保护她们免受家庭暴力。本研究评估了沙特女性的赋权情况及其作为独立的亲密伴侣暴力预测指标的效用。
对400名年龄在19至65岁之间、前往利雅得初级卫生保健中心门诊就诊的已婚女性，使用女性赋权模块和世界卫生组织先前经阿拉伯语验证的多国暴力侵害妇女行为（VAW）工具进行访谈，以更多地了解女性对亲密伴侣暴力和女性赋权（在决策过程和行动自由方面）的看法。采用逻辑回归分析来确定亲密伴侣暴力的预测指标。当p<0.05时，确定具有显著性。
在身体暴力（18.5%）、情感暴力（25.5%）、性暴力（19.2%）和经济暴力（25.3%）方面，亲密伴侣暴力的终生总体发生率为44.8%。19.5%的女性表示她们对亲密伴侣暴力持消极态度。在报告对暴力持积极态度的女性中，亲密伴侣暴力的发生率为41.8%，而在报告持中立态度和消极态度的女性中，这一比例分别为45%和56.8%，亲密伴侣暴力的发生率显著上升（χ2 = 4.35，p = 0.037）。大约三分之一的女性没有决策权（33%）或行动自由（40.1%）。在比较赋权女性和未赋权女性时发现，在决策过程中亲密伴侣暴力的发生率显著较低（30.1%对77%，χ2 = 74.91，p<0.001），在行动自由方面也是如此（16.2%对27.7%，χ2 = 5.77，p = 0.016）。在对相关混杂因素进行调整后，女性赋权是亲密伴侣暴力的一个独立预测指标（OR = 0.734，95%置信区间：0.63 - 0.85）。
女性赋权是亲密伴侣暴力的一个有力预测指标。缺乏社会和经济权力的女性应得到政府的援助。应支持那些强调转变对暴力的文化观念并使女性能够参与决策过程的宣传倡议。
