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Factors associated with violence against women in a representative sample of the Lebanese population: results of a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

To evaluate the prevalence of violence against women (VAW) and assess factors associated with VAW among a representative sample of the Lebanese population. This cross-sectional study was carried out between September and December 2018. Participants from all Lebanese governorates were enrolled in this study using a proportionate random sample. The percentages of women who were exposed to physical and non-physical abuse were 37.1% and 49.4% respectively. Factors associated with physical abuse were being divorced, having a partner addicted to substances and alcohol, or with a history of threats, violence, assaults, and crimes, higher stressful life experiences, and abuse reported from childhood (physical, sexual, or psychological). Non-physical abuse was associated with abuse reported from childhood (physical, sexual, or psychological), higher stressful life experiences, and the fact that the partner is addicted to substances and alcohol, or has a history of threats. Our results suggest that being divorced, illiterate, and unemployed, having an addicted partner, and having experienced child abuse are all factors that are associated with more violence against women.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Science, Lebanese University, Fanar, Lebanon

    Clara Rahme & Chloe Khoury

  2. Research Department, Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross, P.O. Box 60096, Jal Eddib, Lebanon

    Chadia Haddad & Sahar Obeid

  3. UMR 1094, Neuroépidémiologie Tropicale, Institut d’Epidémiologie et de Neurologie Tropicale, GEIST, University Limoges, 87000, Limoges, France

    Chadia Haddad

  4. INSPECT-LB: Institut National de Sante Publique, Epidemiologie Clinique et Toxicologie, Beirut, Lebanon

    Marwan Akel, Sahar Obeid & Souheil Hallit

  5. School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon

    Marwan Akel

  6. Université Paris 1 Panthéon Sorbonne, Paris, France

    Hala Obeid

  7. Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon

    Sahar Obeid

  8. Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (USEK), Jounieh, Lebanon

    Souheil Hallit

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  1. Clara Rahme
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  2. Chadia Haddad
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  3. Marwan Akel
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Correspondence to Sahar Obeid or Souheil Hallit.

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The Psychiatric Hospital of the Cross Ethics and Research Committee approved this study protocol (reference number: HPC-004-2019).

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This work has been done in the frame of the “Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience Master 2 program,” Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University.

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Rahme, C., Haddad, C., Akel, M. et al. Factors associated with violence against women in a representative sample of the Lebanese population: results of a cross-sectional study. Arch Womens Ment Health 24, 63–72 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01022-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-020-01022-2

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