Intimate partner violence against Palestinian women in Gaza strip: Prevalence and correlates

Context: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects gravely the victims and is resulting in negative physical and psychological consequences. Aims: This paper aimed to determine the prevalence of IPV against women in Gaza strip and associated factors. Moreover, to explore women's seeking behaviors to help. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods and Materials: Community internet-based survey was conducted using the Heart Insult Threat Scout questionnaire and the reporting behavior of respondent to violence act. Statistical Analysis Used: A number of 517 ever married women responded and data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software version 23. Results: About 517 women participated. Of which, 23% (119/517) reported exposure to any types of IPV. Multivariate logistic regression showed factors associated with IPV were as follows: husbands who are drug user (OR = 27.577, CI95%: 5.153-147.591; P < 0.001), husband exposure to violence in childhood (OR = 9.174, CI95%: 4.753-7.727; P > 0.001), and family with a special needs child (OR = 2.956, CI95%: 1.131-8.607; P < 0.05). Approximately, two-thirds of the victims tended to keep silent toward violence and dealt with it as a private and family issue; hence, they hesitated to communicate with others or seek any help to protect themselves. Conclusions: About 23% from the study participants experience violence in their life time. Factors associated with IPV are husband's drug abuse, having a child with special needs, and husband's childhood experience of violence. Qualitative researches are needed to understand the women experience to violence and sociocultural barrier for disclosure.