SPOUSAL VIOLENCE IN NORTH EAST PART OF BANGLADESH

Dr. Kanta Deb, Dr. Misbahul Hoq Chowdhury, Dr. Siddhartha Shankar Dutta, Dr. Md. Tabibul Islam* and Dr. Iffath Farooqui

ABSTRACT

This is a hospital based cross sectional study carried out between July 2010 and June 2012 to find out the spousal violence. A total 105 women of violence by spouse (husband), who underwent treatment at One Stop Crisis Centre (OCC), Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet were included. The mean age of the women was 29.80 ± 7.63 years and maximum women were between 25-34 years (50.5%). House wife constituted 83.8% of cases and lower class socioeconomic status was 61.0% cases. Educational qualification was primary (37.7%) followed by illiterate (26.7%). Most of the patients were from rural areas (60.0%) and family type was nuclear (74.3%). Number of child was 1-2 in 58.1% of cases. The common types of spousal violence were slapping or twisting (86.7%), followed by pushing or shaking (57.4%) and punching or shoving (46.7%). The common causes of spousal violence were dowry (38.1%), followed by poverty (20.0%) and establishment of domination (16.2%). In conclusion the common types of spousal violence is slapping or twisting, pushing or shaking and punching or shoving. The common reasons for this violence are dowry, poverty and establishment of domination.

Keywords: Spousal violence, wives, husband, Bangladesh.