Women’s exposure to intimate partner violence and health effects

Abstract

Abstract Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) directed at women is a violation of the human rights and its consequences affect women’s health profoundly. It exists in every country but can vary in prevalence and frequency. Aim The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between women’s exposure to IPV and somatic symptoms and gynaecological disease in Rwanda. Methods This cross-­‐sectional, population-­‐based study included young women aged 20-­‐35 years from the Sothern Province of Rwanda (n=477). Face-­‐to-­‐face interviews were performed, using a questionnaire based on items from the World Health Organization (WHO) questionnaire for research on IPV. Bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses have been executed calculating adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (Cl). Results The odds for associations between physical and psychological IPV and all our symptoms including gynaecological disease indicated statistical significance. Associations between sexual IPV directed at women and having chest pain (OR 3.15; 1.70-­‐5.81), heart palpitations (OR 2.29; 1.08-­‐4.86) and stomach pain (OR 1.89; 1.03-­‐3.49) were found statistically significant. The association between psychological IPV and chest pain showed the highest odds with OR 4.10 (2.31-­‐ 7.31). All forms of violence were associated with stomach pain, chest pain and health palpitations. Conclusion In this setting, women who have been exposed to IPV during the past year were more likely to suffer from various common symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, stomach pain, and gynaecological disease. The prevalence of common symptoms is interpreted as a sign of distress caused by IPV exposure.