Effect of intimate partner violence on health of women of Palestinian origin

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence is a problem in women who are refugees but the relationship of this violence to physical health has not been studied well.

Aim: To identify significant associations between physical health problems and partner violence by type in refugee women.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, data were collected from a convenience sample of 238 women attending healthcare centres of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in three Jordanian cities (Amman, Irbid and Zarqa).

Results: Victims of violence reported different health problems. However, rates of health problems were higher among victims of psychological partner violence and more health problems had significant associations with psychological violence when compared to physical and sexual partner violence. Furthermore, women's self-rated health status was only significantly associated with psychological partner violence but not with the other types of partner violence.

Conclusion: Vulnerability to partner violence is related to life stressors women may encounter. Physical health is a fundamental target for psychological partner violence; evidenced by the resultant wide range of health problems in victims. This association occurs although psychological violence is not associated with health trauma/injury that physical and sexual partner violence usually generate. This conclusion highlights one aspect of the associated harm of psychological partner violence in victims' lives.

Implications for nursing and health policy: Empowerment of women socially, economically and psychologically, in collaboration with related community parties, should be an adopted international health policy by the governments. Screening policy for partner violence should be integrated with health and nursing services. Nurses are in a position to facilitate the implementation of health policy. Their role include helping women identify resources of help, develop required skills necessary for dealing with violence and identify their social support network.

Limitations: Social desirability and use of convenience sampling are major limitations of the study.

Keywords: Health; Healthcare Centers; Psychological Violence; Refugee Women.