|
Violence against women by intimate partners and its association with obesity in northern Iran
|
Fatemeh Abdollahi *    , Munn-Sann Lye , Jamshid Yazdani Charati , Mehran Zarghami |
| Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Health Sciences Research Center, Addiction Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran , abdollahizagh@gmail.com |
|
|
Abstract: (48 Views) |
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and obesity constitute major public health challenges with escalating global prevalence. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of IPV and obesity, and explored their associations among women in northern Iran.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 530 women recruited through stratified random sampling from primary healthcare centers in Mazandaran Province between 2019 and 2020. Data collection employed validated instruments including the World Health Organization Domestic Violence Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), alongside comprehensive socio-demographic, obstetric, and anthropometric assessments. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multiple logistic regression models.
Results: The study documented high prevalence rates: overweight (47.6%), obesity (26.7%), psychological IPV (70.4%), physical IPV (17.9%), and sexual IPV (6.4%). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that higher educational attainment (OR = 2.1, 95% CI: 1.3-3.4) and lifetime history of violence exposure (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 2.1-4.8) significantly increased IPV risk, while nuclear family structure provided protective effects (OR = 0.6, 95% CI: 0.4-0.9). Although no direct association was found between IPV types and obesity, lifetime violence exposure from family members emerged as a significant predictor of obesity among women experiencing any form of IPV (OR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-2.9).
Conclusion: This study reveals concerning prevalence rates of both IPV (71.4%) and obesity/overweight (74.3%) among women in northern Iran. While direct associations between IPV and obesity were not established, lifetime violence exposure emerged as a predictor of obesity, underscoring the complex, long-term health consequences of chronic violence. These findings emphasize the urgent need for integrated prevention strategies and comprehensive interventions addressing both IPV and obesity as interconnected health issues. |
|
| Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence, Iran, Obesity, Public Health, Risk Factors, Women's |
|
|
Full-Text [PDF 1025 kb]
(31 Downloads)
|
Type of Study: Original Research |
Subject:
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Received: 2025/05/16 | Accepted: 2025/06/26 | Published: 2025/06/28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Send email to the article author |
|
|
|
| Add your comments about this article |
|
|
|
