Domestic violence: a study among a group of Turkish women

With this study we attempt to explore the reality of domestic violence, its prevalence, type and frequency among a group of Turkish women.

This study was performed between October 2000 and May 2001 in the fourth largest city in Turkey. All women over the age of 15, who visited any of 50 health centres in different districts for different purposes, were asked to participate in the study. 506 of the participants who gave their consent were taken as a study group, and printed questionnaires were filled in during face-to-face interviews.

297 (58.7%) of the participants had experienced domestic violence at least once in their lifetime. The male partner was the primary violent person (49.5%), followed by mother and/or father (14.1%). The type of violence seen most was a combination of physical and psychological violence (45.5%). More than half of the women (58.6%) were experiencing domestic violence frequently and continuously. Reasons given for this violent behaviour were economic hardship (18.9%), followed by alcohol consumption by the violent person (18.5%), and inadequate family relations (15.8%). Of the victims 43.8% accepted this violence, but 26.6% reacted with violence. Women were not willing to abandon their relationships despite marital violence, because of their children (48.2%). Women's and men's higher educational attainments did indicate a decrease in the prevalence of domestic violence.

Reasons for continuing the abusive relationship and the effectiveness of the scarce support resources should be evaluated more seriously. The potential role of the primary healthcare provider in eliminating barriers for identification and assessment of domestic violence should not be forgotten. Otherwise, domestic violence will still remain a 'family matter', hidden and neglected.