Factors Associated with Spouse Physical Abuse

Abstract

Factors Associated with Spouse Physical Abuse

Peeranuch Rohitsatian MD*

Supranee Angkeaw MD*

Varuna Kolkijkovin MD**

*Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

**Department of Psychiatry, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

Objective: To determine the causes, characteristics, severity and factors associated with severity of spouse physical abuse.

Study design: Descriptive study.

Subjects: A total of 272 physical abused wives visiting at one stop crisis center, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital during January 2003 to December 2005 were enrolled.

Methods: The personnel and family characteristics, data of physical abuse and its severity, classified into minor and major violence, were gathered from hospital records and analyzed.

Main outcome measures: Association between studied factors and severity of spouse physical abuse.

Results: Concerning about severity of physical abuse, 83.1% were classified as major violence. The most common act and cause of physical abuse were punching and drunken responsible for 37.9% and 39.7% respectively. Moreover, repeated physical abuse occurred in 68.7%. The wife's low education, history of physical abuse and husband's narcotic usage were significantly associated with major violence of wife's physical abuse.

Conclusion: The wife's education, history of physical abuse and husband's narcotic usage were associated with major violence of wife's physical abuse.

Vajira Med J 2008 ; 52 : 31 - 38