Health consequences of domestic violence against women in Serbia

Background/Aim. Domestic violence against women is a significant public health problem resulting in serious health and social consequences, for women and their families. The aim of this study was to analyze the sociodemographic characteristic of women who were exposed to domestic violence, as well a...

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Main Authors: Mijatović-Jovanović Vesna, Čanković Sonja, Milijašević Dragana, Ukropina Snežana, Jovanović Mladen, Čanković Dušan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Military Health Department, Ministry of Defance, Serbia 2020-01-01
Series:Vojnosanitetski Pregled
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2020/0042-84501800054M.pdf
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author Mijatović-Jovanović Vesna
Čanković Sonja
Milijašević Dragana
Ukropina Snežana
Jovanović Mladen
Čanković Dušan
author_facet Mijatović-Jovanović Vesna
Čanković Sonja
Milijašević Dragana
Ukropina Snežana
Jovanović Mladen
Čanković Dušan
author_sort Mijatović-Jovanović Vesna
collection DOAJ
description Background/Aim. Domestic violence against women is a significant public health problem resulting in serious health and social consequences, for women and their families. The aim of this study was to analyze the sociodemographic characteristic of women who were exposed to domestic violence, as well as the impact of violence on women's health. Methods. Data from cross-sectional study from the 2013 National Health Survey in Serbia were used analyzing 6,320 women aged 20–75 years. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were implemented to assess the association of exposure to domestic violence against women with sociodemographic characteristics, as well as with selected health indicators and health risk behaviors. Results. Out of total number of examined women, 307 (4.9%) reported that they experienced physical and/or psychological violence in the last 12 months. Divorced or separated women, poor women and women with poor social support had greater odds for exposure to domestic violence. Women who had experienced domestic violence were less likely to perceived their health as good than women who had not experienced domestic violence [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.32–0.71], and more likely to report severe or very severe pain (AOR = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.74–3.33), stress and pressure exposure (AOR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.89–3.64) and depression (AOR = 3.24; 95% CI = 2.08–5.03). Exposure to violence was also associated with the use of sleeping pills or sedative (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.67–2.93), with frequent use of alcohol (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.08–1.86) and abortion (AOR = 3.11; 95% CI = 1.48–6.54). Conclusion. Women, victims of domestic violence are more likely to have physical and mental disorders compared to women who are not victims of domestic violence. Violence prevention demands a multisectoral approach, in which the health sector has a central role that includes early identification and recognition of abuse, appropriate care as well as documenting and reporting violence.
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spelling doaj.art-698cb3e1c2b149dcbc35da5175c1d9842022-12-22T00:01:30ZengMilitary Health Department, Ministry of Defance, SerbiaVojnosanitetski Pregled0042-84502406-07202020-01-01771142110.2298/VSP171130054M0042-84501800054MHealth consequences of domestic violence against women in SerbiaMijatović-Jovanović Vesna0Čanković Sonja1Milijašević Dragana2Ukropina Snežana3Jovanović Mladen4Čanković Dušan5University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Center for Analysis, Planning and Organization of Health Care, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Center for Analysis, Planning and Organization of Health Care, Novi Sad, SerbiaInstitute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Center for Analysis, Planning and Organization of Health Care, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Center for Health Promotion, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + Clinical Center of Vojvodina, Clinic for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Novi Sad, SerbiaUniversity of Novi Sad, Faculty of Medicine, Novi Sad, Serbia + Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Center for Health Promotion, Novi Sad, SerbiaBackground/Aim. Domestic violence against women is a significant public health problem resulting in serious health and social consequences, for women and their families. The aim of this study was to analyze the sociodemographic characteristic of women who were exposed to domestic violence, as well as the impact of violence on women's health. Methods. Data from cross-sectional study from the 2013 National Health Survey in Serbia were used analyzing 6,320 women aged 20–75 years. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were implemented to assess the association of exposure to domestic violence against women with sociodemographic characteristics, as well as with selected health indicators and health risk behaviors. Results. Out of total number of examined women, 307 (4.9%) reported that they experienced physical and/or psychological violence in the last 12 months. Divorced or separated women, poor women and women with poor social support had greater odds for exposure to domestic violence. Women who had experienced domestic violence were less likely to perceived their health as good than women who had not experienced domestic violence [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.47; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.32–0.71], and more likely to report severe or very severe pain (AOR = 2.41; 95% CI = 1.74–3.33), stress and pressure exposure (AOR = 2.62; 95% CI = 1.89–3.64) and depression (AOR = 3.24; 95% CI = 2.08–5.03). Exposure to violence was also associated with the use of sleeping pills or sedative (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.67–2.93), with frequent use of alcohol (AOR = 1.42; 95% CI = 1.08–1.86) and abortion (AOR = 3.11; 95% CI = 1.48–6.54). Conclusion. Women, victims of domestic violence are more likely to have physical and mental disorders compared to women who are not victims of domestic violence. Violence prevention demands a multisectoral approach, in which the health sector has a central role that includes early identification and recognition of abuse, appropriate care as well as documenting and reporting violence.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2020/0042-84501800054M.pdfbattered womendomestic violencehealthrisk factorssocioeconomic factorswomen
spellingShingle Mijatović-Jovanović Vesna
Čanković Sonja
Milijašević Dragana
Ukropina Snežana
Jovanović Mladen
Čanković Dušan
Health consequences of domestic violence against women in Serbia
Vojnosanitetski Pregled
battered women
domestic violence
health
risk factors
socioeconomic factors
women
title Health consequences of domestic violence against women in Serbia
title_full Health consequences of domestic violence against women in Serbia
title_fullStr Health consequences of domestic violence against women in Serbia
title_full_unstemmed Health consequences of domestic violence against women in Serbia
title_short Health consequences of domestic violence against women in Serbia
title_sort health consequences of domestic violence against women in serbia
topic battered women
domestic violence
health
risk factors
socioeconomic factors
women
url http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0042-8450/2020/0042-84501800054M.pdf
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