title: Wife abuse: a hidden problem. A study among Saudi women attending PHC centres.
abstract: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to measure the prevalence, severity and type of wife abuse experienced by ever-married women attending primary health centres in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Women were interviewed in private at health centres using a questionnaire which included items from the Modified Conflict Tactic Scale, Kansas Marital Scale and the lie scale of the Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory. Of 689 eligible women, 25.7% reported physical abuse and 32.8% emotional abuse without physical violence. Of those physically abused, 36.7% suffered minor and 63.3% severe incidents. The lifetime prevalence of abuse among the women was 57.7%. Only 36.7% of 109 abused women had informed and discussed the issue with their primary care physician.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Fahad Hospital Employee Clinic, Medina, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tashkandi
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Rasheed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data