Epidemioclinical profile of intimate partner abusers

Abstract

Introduction

Domestic violence is a critical global and social phenomenon.

Objectives

- To describe the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics related to the abuser in the context of domestic violence. - To study risk factors for acting out in the abuser.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study related to male abusers of their wives who consulted the Forensic Medicine Department of Taher Sfar Hospital in Mahdia between January 2020 and October 2020 for a forensic examination.

Results

We collected 67 cases of domestic violence out of a total of 688 female consultants. The age of the abuser exceeded 35 years in 84% of cases. The average age of the abusers was 33.8 years. Almost half of the abusers had a primary school education. In 43% of the cases, the abuser was unemployed or had a job with a salary below the minimum wage. We found an association between domestic violence and the unfavorable professional status of the spouse. Only in 6% of the cases did the abuser have a psychiatric disorder. He had a history of chronic alcoholism in 35% of the cases and the use of illicit substances (cannabis) in 9% of the cases. Approximately one out of every two abusers (48%) was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the violent act. Alcoholism was associated with all forms of domestic violence. He had a criminal history in 30% of cases.

Conclusions

Our results provide real areas for reflection regarding the adoption of specific therapeutic strategies with domestic violence abusers.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.