Korean Journal of Family Medicine

"domestic violence"

Review Article

The Global Landscape of Domestic Violence against Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review: Priya Dharishini Kunasagran, Khalid Mokti, Mohd Yusof Ibrahim, Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul Rahim, Freddie Robinson, Adora J Muyou, Sheila Miriam Mujin, Nabihah Ali, Gary Goh Chun Chao, Rudi Nasib, Abraham Chiu En Loong, Nachia Banu Abdul Rahim, Mohd Hafizuddin Ahmad, Prabakaran Solomon Dhanaraj, Pathman Arumugam, Jamilah Yusoff; Korean J Fam Med 2024;45(1):3-11. Published online October 18, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.23.0084

Abstract
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The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an alarming increase in domestic violence against women owing to lockdown measures and limited access to support services. This article provides insights into the global prevalence of domestic violence, barriers to seeking help, its impact on women and children, and the best practices implemented worldwide. Domestic violence encompasses various forms of abuse; many young women experience partner violence. Barriers to seeking help include fear, financial constraints, lack of awareness of available services, and distrust among stakeholders. The consequences of domestic violence affect the mental health of both mothers and children. Countries have increased shelter funding and developed innovative protocols to reach survivors and address this issue. However, the healthcare sector’s involvement in addressing domestic violence has been limited. This review advocates collaboration among healthcare institutions and government bodies. Key recommendations include utilizing telehealth services, implementing comprehensive training programs, establishing effective referral systems, enhancing health education, developing a domestic violence registry, improving the responses of law enforcement and justice systems through healthcare integration, promoting data sharing, and conducting further research. Healthcare systems should recognize domestic violence as a public health concern and detect, prevent, and intervene in cases to support survivors.

Citations

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Women’s Health and Primary Care
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Korean Journal of Family Medicine.2024; 45(1): 1. CrossRef
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5,549 View
107 Download
5 Web of Science
6 Crossref

Brief Communication

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Domestic Violence against Iranian Women: A Cross-Sectional Study: Fathola Mohamadian, Ataollah Hashemian, Maryam Bagheri, Ashraf Direkvand-Moghadam; Korean J Fam Med 2016;37(4):253-258. Published online July 21, 2016; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.4.253

Abstract
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Background

Violence against women in families is the most common form of violence against them. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of domestic violence and its effects on married women of Ilam.

Methods

In this descriptive-sectional research, 334 married women referred to medical health centers in Ilam were selected to participate using a random sampling method. After obtaining their consent to participate in the study, participants responded to a 46 items questionnaire and responses were analyzed using IBM SPSS for Windows ver. 20.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA).

Results

The majority of the participants reported experiencing domestic violence and emotional violence was more prevalent than other kinds of violence. Logistic regression analysis showed that lower education level, marriage at a younger age, shorter duration of marriage, fewer children, being a housewife, and husband's unemployment had a significant relationship with domestic violence against women.

Conclusion

The high prevalence of wife abuse in Ilam especially emotional violence due to lower education levels and marriage at younger age could be a serious threat for women's health as well as for other members of the family. This could be a grounding factor for other social harms such as suicide and this issue must be studied from legal, religious, and cultural standpoints.

Citations

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Leila Manzouri, Maryam Seyed-Nezhad, Ghasem Rajabi-Vasokolaei, Alireza Arabi, Mohammad Moardi-Joo
BMC Women's Health.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Aftermath of COVID-19: Exploring the Perception of Violence Against Women in the Middle East and North Africa
Mansour Pourmehdi
Journal of Interpersonal Violence.2024; 39(9-10): 2076. CrossRef
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Almaza A. Salim, Mona Elsayed, Mohamed Hafez Mohamed, Heba Yousef, Mohamed S. Hemeda, Alaa Ramadan, Nathan Ezie Kengo, Noha M. Abu Bakr Elsaid
Global Epidemiology.2024; 7: 100139. CrossRef
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Shiraz E-Medical Journal.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Domestic violence against married women during the COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
Mira M. Abu-Elenin, Ahmed A. Elshora, Mohamed Saad Sadaka, Doaa E. Abdeldaim
BMC Women's Health.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Domestic violence against women during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdown in Egypt: a cross-sectional study
Noha M. Abu Bakr Elsaid, Shaimaa A. Shehata, Haydy Hassan Sayed, Heba Saber Mohammed, Zeinab F. Abdel-Fatah
Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Structured Spatial Modeling and Mapping of Domestic Violence Against Women of Reproductive Age in Rwanda
Faustin Habyarimana, Temesgen Zewotir, Shaun Ramroop
Journal of Interpersonal Violence.2021; 36(5-6): 2430. CrossRef
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Elham Khanlarzadeh, Nasrin Jiryaee
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Ellahe Bahrami-Vazir, Sakineh Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, Fatemeh Ghelichkhani, Azam Mohammadi, Mojgan Mirghafourvand
Journal of Biosocial Science.2020; 52(3): 400. CrossRef
Domestic violence among married women of reproductive age in Zimbabwe: a cross sectional study
Joseph Lasong, Yuan Zhang, Kahindo P. Muyayalo, Olivia Adhiambo Njiri, Simon Afewerki Gebremedhin, Chrissie S. Abaidoo, Chun Yan Liu, Huiping Zhang, Kai Zhao
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Baohua Zheng, Xidi Zhu, Zhao Hu, Wensu Zhou, Yunhan Yu, Shilin Yin, Huilan Xu
BMC Public Health.2020;[Epub] CrossRef
Domestic violence and suicide attempts among married women: A case–control study
Farzad Rahmani, Shiva Salmasi, Farnaz Rahmani, Jamie Bird, Elnaz Asghari, Navide Robai, Mohammad Asghari Jafarabadi, Leila Gholizadeh
Journal of Clinical Nursing.2019; 28(17-18): 3252. CrossRef
The Effect of Resilience and Stress Coping Styles on Suicide Attempts in Females Reporting Spouse-Related Abuse
Sepideh Hajian, Simin Kasaeinia, Mahboubeh Ahmadi Doulabi
Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.2018;[Epub] CrossRef
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Mohsen Saffari, Syed Asadullah Arslan, Mir Saeid Yekaninejad, Amir H. Pakpour, Faten Al Zaben, Harold G. Koenig
Journal of Interpersonal Violence.2017;[Epub] CrossRef

6,142 View
67 Download
17 Web of Science
18 Crossref

Original Articles

Family Physician's Knowledge of and Attitude towards Spouse Abuse in Korea.: Dae Gyeun Kim, Soon Ok Kim, Jun Su Kim, Jun Hyun Yoo, Jung Kwon Lee; J Korean Acad Fam Med 2006;27(7):540-548. Published online July 10, 2006

Abstract
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Background
: The primary physician may be the first or the only professional who may come in contact with victims of spouse abuse. But little is known about family physician's knowledge of and attitude towards spouse abuse in Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted.

Methods : We selected 191 doctors from the participants of the 2003 annual meeting of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine (KAFM). We distributed a 5 paged questionnaire them to fill out and analyzed 125 cases among them. The questionnaire included social demographic characteristics, individual knowledge of and attitudes toward spouse abuse, individual practice experience, education and training experience, and others.

Results : We found a significant relationship between doctor's knowledge of spouse abuse and intervention after coming in contact with the victim. Also, this study showed that 31.8% of doctors intervened and traced the spouse abuse cases actively after physical treatment of victims, but none of the cases were reported to the police. Among the total 64.7% of the doctors explained that they did not want to intervene because they were afraid of getting involved in a legal situation. Some of the doctors who had prior educational experience concerning spouse abuse showed very significant high rate of actual intervention (P=0.0112).

Conclusion : The more educational experience on spouse violence the doctors had, the more active intervention they showed. Therefore, we need to intensify the practical educational program along with the training medical program targeting medical practitioners. Of course we need to request sacrifice from doctors based on moral principles, but we also need systemic aid and reform to legal system to minimize burden to doctors.

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Attitude and knowledge of residents on domestic violence.: In Goo Lee, Yu Jin Paek, Min Su Park, In Sun Park; J Korean Acad Fam Med 2002;23(3):344-352. Published online March 1, 2002

Abstract
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Background
: Nowadays there is an upsurge of, social concern on domestic violence. The role of doctors in the prevention and screening of domestic violence is becoming important. Therefore, we selected medical residents to find out about the attitude and knowledge of doctors on domestic violence.

Methods : From 2000 March to October, we surveyed questionnaires to residents. The contents included the attitude on the victims, assailants and the children of domestic violence, whether they had the will to report domestic violence to the police or not, and finally the knowledge about the law on domestic violence.

Results : Among 210 residents, 95 (45.2%) answered. Almost 90% of the subjects agreed to the necessity of social intervention on the assailants. And most residents agreed that the psychosocial impact of domestic violence to the exposed children was important. 65 (68.4%) residents said they would report to the police when they recognized victims of domestic violence during their consultation. 27-68% answered correctly about the law related to domestic violence. 40% agreed to the need of education for domestic violence.

Conclusion : The residents had little knowledge on domestic violence law. Therefore, it is essential for residents to be educated accordingly. The factors of marital status and sexual difference of doctors on domestic violence should be investigated.