The prevalence and types of violence against women seeking divorce referred to the forensic medicine organization; a case study of Yasuj city

Background & Objective: The psychological and sociological outcomes of violence against women is the point at issue in women’s mental health investigations. The present work is dedicated to scrutinize the prevalence and types of violence against women seeking divorce referred to the forensic medicine organization of Boyer-Ahmad county. Methodology: This was descriptive-analytical research conducted employing the survey methodology. Participants were all women seeking divorce referred to the forensic medicine organization of Boyer-Ahmad county during eight months from July 2017 to February 2018, studied by the census method. Data were collected using a questionnaire, and then included in the SPSS 19 and analyzed using descriptive statistics (e.g. frequency, mean, SD, etc.). Results: The study was carried out on 206 women. The mean prevalence of domestic violence was estimated at 19.3%, noting a moderate level. The greatest and least mean prevalence of violence was observed respectively with mental violence (84.4%) and sexual violence (72.1%). There was a statistically significant association between education, the women and spouse job, moral turpitude, doubt and treachery, interfering in others’ lives by entourages, learning violence, and marriage year with various dimensions of domestic violence against women seeking divorce. Conclusion: The rate of domestic violence is moderate whilst the rate of mental violence against women seeking divorce is considerably high. Education, a good job, and the financial independence of women can diminish the rate of domestic violence against women.