Community-based Study to describe the Different Forms of Violence against Women in Greater Cairo, Egypt

Gamaleldin, Nahla A.; Abuelela, Abelrazek; Gewaifel, Gihan I.; Gamaleldin, Marwa

doi:10.21608/scumj.2022.262566

Community-based Study to describe the Different Forms of Violence against Women in Greater Cairo, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of community medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt

² American University in Cairo (AUC), Egypt

³ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt

⁴ Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt

10.21608/scumj.2022.262566

Abstract

Background: Violence against women is an urgent criminal and major health problem with devastating consequences for women, children, and families. It is the most pervasive yet least recognized human rights abuse in the world. Objectives: This study was done toassess the perception and experiences of women and girls in the reproductive age group (18-49) towards violence and to reveal their current knowledge about the available services & laws. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among women and girls in the reproductive age group < /strong> (18-49) from four informal urban communities in greater Cairo Ezbet El Haggana, El-Marg, Manshit Nasser, and El-Mokattam using a structured interview questionnaire for four target groups of women (Domestic workers, Female sex workers, victims of violence, Women living with HIV). Results: The most frequent stated causes of VAW were traditions and customs (77%) followed by economic reasons (60%), most of the female (57%) respondents agreed that discussing it as a family was the most common response, 42% stated that cases are not usually reported. DWs were the least group who experienced violence in the past 6 months, however, they were the highest group (72%) who reported seeking help when exposed to violence followed by 60% Victims of violence, 17% WLHIV and the least 7% FSWs, these differences were found to be highly significant (p-value =0.000). Conclusion: Domestic violence against women is among the most challenging health problems with morbidity consequences. Its etiology is mostly multifactorial. However, many of these risk factors could be potentially controlled.

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