Taḥqīqāt-i ̒Ulūm-i Raftārī (Feb 2017)
Domestic Violence and Suicidal Behavior: A Survey of Suicide Attempts among Women Hospitalized in the Toxicology Ward of Khorshid Hospital, Iran, in 2015
Abstract
Aim and Background: The phenomenon of suicide has attracted the attention of many researchers. However, not many Iranian researchers have focused on the role of domestic violence in suicidal behavior. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the frequency of suicide attempts and domestic abuse. Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional survey was conducted on 246 married women who had attempted suicide and were hospitalized in the toxicology ward of Khorshid Hospital affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, in 2015. The subjects were randomly selected and interviewed using the Hudson scale. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, t-test, ANOVA, and linear regression analysis in SPSS software. Findings: Among the variables associated with abuse, duration of abuse, history of physical violence, and the intensity of non-physical abuse had significant relationships with the number of suicide attempts. With each unit increase in standard deviation of physical abuse, the chance of suicide increased by 0.37%. This chance increased by 0.20% and 0.19%, respectively, in the case of non-physical violence and prolonged abuse. Conclusions: Without a doubt, domestic violence, depending on the duration and severity of abuse, increased the chance of suicide. Social and legal measures to prevent domestic abuse can reduce the risk of suicide.
