The relationship between women's mental health and domestic violence in semirural areas: A study in turkey

The authors examine the relationship between emotional disorders and domestic violence (DV) in 395 women of different ethnicities in Turkey. PRIME MD (Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders) was used for diagnosis. This is a cross-sectional and epidemiological research. Results showed that the prevalence of emotional disorders, anxiety, and somatoform disorders was 22.8%, 24.8%, and 16.9%, respectively. The mean DV score was 2.98 ± 1.32 over 10.00. DV scores were higher when women did not want to get married or did not have their family's blessing for marriage. Observed scores were also high for civil marriage cases, or when women had a job, had low income, or were afraid of their husbands (P <.05). The number of comorbid diagnoses increased with increase in DV scores (P <.001). Mean DV scores were higher for women diagnosed with major depression, partial remission or recurrence of major depression, panic disorder, and common anxiety (P <.05). The authors recommend that if physicians suspect any emotional disorders in women in primary care, they should evaluate for DV. © 2011 APJPH