Abstract
Objectives
The aim of this study is to review the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of domestic violence (DV) in Saudi Arabia.
Methods
Systematic review utilizing PRISMA guidelines conducted on articles focusing on research related to the epidemiology of domestic violence in Saudi Arabia between 2009 and 2017 were identified through electronic databases (PubMed and Embase) and supplemented by cross-referencing and local journal searches.
Results
Eleven studies were conducted in six cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Madina, Taif, Arar, and Al-Ahsa). Several screening questionnaires were utilized; four studies used the WHO multi-country study questionnaire and found that the lifetime prevalence of DV ranged between 39.3 and 44.5%. The most frequently reported risk factors for DV were the level of education of both the victim and the spouse and alcohol or drug addiction of the spouse.
Conclusions
One in every three women in Saudi Arabia is a victim of domestic violence. Strategies to reduce risk factors, prevent DV, care for victims, and mitigate the effects of DV must be adopted by health care agencies in Saudi Arabia.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abo-Elfetoh NM, El-Mawgod MMA (2015) Violence against wives: a silent suffering in northern Saudi community. J Egypt Public Health Assoc 90:87–93. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.epx.0000467223.22719.36
Afifi ZEM, Al-Muhaideb NS, Hadish NF, Ismail FI, Al-Qeamy FM (2011) Domestic violence and its impact on married women’s health in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J 32:612–620
Ahmed HA, Zahrah AA, Alsadah A, Abdullah AA, Abdullah JS, Saeed AB, Abdulaziz SAA, Hassan A-HT, Abdulwahab AF, Abdulwahab AH (2017) Prevalence and risk factors for abuse among Saudi females, KSA. Egypt J Hosp Med 68:1082–1087. https://doi.org/10.12816/0038213
Al Dosary AH (2016) Health impact of domestic violence against Saudi Women: cross sectional study. Int J Health Sci 10:165–173. https://doi.org/10.12816/0048808
Almuneef M, Al-Eissa M (2011) Preventing child abuse and neglect in Saudi Arabia: are we ready? Ann Saudi Med 31:635–640. https://doi.org/10.4103/0256-4947.87102
Alquaiz AM, Almuneef M, Kazi A, Almeneessier A (2017) Social determinants of domestic violence among Saudi married women in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. J Interpers Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260517746128
Alzahrani TA, Abaalkhail BA, Ramadan IK (2016) Prevalence of intimate partner violence and its associated risk factors among Saudi female patients attending the primary healthcare centers in Western Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J 37:96–99. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2016.1.13135
Barnawi FH (2015) Prevalence and risk factors of domestic violence against women attending a primary care center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. J Interpers Violence 32:1171–1186. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260515587669
Coker AL, Davis KE, Arias I, Desai S, Sanderson M, Brandt HM, Smith PH (2002) Physical and mental health effects of intimate partner violence for men and women. Am J Prev Med 23:260–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0749-3797(02)00514-7
Dillon G, Hussain R, Loxton D, Rahman S (2013) Mental and physical health and intimate partner violence against women: a review of the literature. Int J Family Med 2013:313909. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/313909
Downes MJ, Brennan ML, Williams HC, Dean RS (2016) Development of a critical appraisal tool to assess the quality of cross-sectional studies (AXIS). BMJ Open 6:e011458. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2016-011458
Duvvury N, Callan A, Carney P, Raghavendra S (2013) Intimate partner violence: economic costs and implications for growth and development. Women’s voice, agency, and participation research series. World Bank, Washington DC
Eldoseri HM, Sharps P (2017) Risk factors for spousal physical violence against women in Saudi Arabia. J Interpers Violence. https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260517696861
Eldoseri HM, Tufts KA, Zhang Q, Fish JN (2014) Adverse health effects of spousal violence among women attending Saudi Arabian primary health-care clinics. East Mediterr Health J 20:717–725
Fageeh WM (2014) Factors associated with domestic violence: a cross-sectional survey among women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. BMJ Open 4:e004242. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2013-004242
Ferlay J, Colombet M, Soerjomataram I, Mathers C, Parkin DM, Pineros M, Znaor A, Bray F (2019) Estimating the global cancer incidence and mortality in 2018: GLOBOCAN sources and methods. Int J Cancer 144:1941–1953. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.31937
Ferrari G, Agnew-Davies R, Bailey J, Howard L, Howarth E, Peters TJ, Sardinha L, Feder GS (2016) Domestic violence and mental health: a cross-sectional survey of women seeking help from domestic violence support services. Glob Health Action 9:29890. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v9.29890
Fugate M, Landis L, Riordan K, Naureckas S, Engel B (2005) Barriers to domestic violence help seeking: implications for intervention. Violence Against Women 11:290–310. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801204271959
Garcia-Moreno C, Jansen H, Heise L, Watts C (2005) WHO multi-country study on women’s health and domestic violence against women: initial results on prevalence, health outcomes and women’s responses. World Health Organ, Geneva
Holt S, Buckley H, Whelan S (2008) The impact of exposure to domestic violence on children and young people: a review of the literature. Child Abuse Negl 32:797–810. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.02.004
Karakurt G, Smith D, Whiting J (2014) Impact of intimate partner violence on women’s mental health. J Fam Violence 29:693–702. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-014-9633-2
Krug EG, Dahlberg LL, Mercy JA, Zwi AB, Lozano R (2002) World report on violence and health. World Health Organization, Geneva
Lardhi J (2016) Responding to child abuse in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA): the role of professional training programmes. University of Bedfordshire, Thesis
Levendosky AA, Bogat GA, Martinez-Torteya C (2013) PTSD symptoms in young children exposed to intimate partner violence. Violence Against Women 19:187–201. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077801213476458
Mendonca MFS, Ludermir AB (2017) Intimate partner violence and incidence of common mental disorder. Rev Saude Publica 51:32. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1518-8787.2017051006912
Ministry of Labor and Social Development (2017) General directorate of social protection. https://mlsd.gov.sa/en/services/622
Moher D, Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Altman DG, Group P (2009) Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: the PRISMA statement. PLoS Med 6:e1000097. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000097
Moyer VA, U. S. Preventive Services Task Force (2013) Screening for intimate partner violence and abuse of elderly and vulnerable adults: US preventive services task force recommendation statement. Ann Intern Med 158:478–486. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-158-6-201303190-00588
Osofsky JD (2003) Prevalence of children’s exposure to domestic violence and child maltreatment: implications for prevention and intervention. Clin Child Fam Psychol Rev 6:161–170. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024958332093
Sugg N (2015) Intimate partner violence: prevalence, health consequences, and intervention. Med Clin North Am 99:629–649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2015.01.012
Tashkandi A, Rasheed FP (2009) Wife abuse: a hidden problem. A study among Saudi women attending PHC centres. East Mediterr Health J 15:1242–1253
UN General Assembly (1993) Declaration on elimination of violence against women. UN General Assembly, New York
Vranda MN, Kumar CN, Muralidhar D, Janardhana N, Sivakumar PT (2018) Barriers to disclosure of intimate partner violence among female patients availing services at tertiary care psychiatric hospitals: a qualitative study. J Neurosci Rural Pract 9:326–330. https://doi.org/10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_14_18
WHO (2013a) Global and regional estimates of violence against women. Prevalence and health effects of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence. WHO, Geneva
WHO (2013b) Responding to intimate partner violence and sexual violence against women: WHO clinical and policy guidelines. WHO, Geneva
Wisner CL, Gilmer TP, Saltzman LE, Zink TM (1999) Intimate partner violence against women: do victims cost health plans more? J Fam Pract 48:439–443
World Medical Association (2017) WMA statement on family violence. The World Medical Association, Ferney-Voltaire
Wuest J, Merritt-Gray M, Ford-Gilboe M, Lent B, Varcoe C, Campbell JC (2008) Chronic pain in women survivors of intimate partner violence. J Pain 9:1049–1057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2008.06.009
Funding
This research did not receive any grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kazzaz, Y.M., AlAmeer, K.M., AlAhmari, R.A. et al. The epidemiology of domestic violence in Saudi Arabia: a systematic review. Int J Public Health 64, 1223–1232 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01303-3
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01303-3