Domestic Violence against Women in Jordan: Evidence from Health Clinics

To explore women's attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV) and their determinants, as well as to document the prevalence of various types of violence among women attending public health centers in the Balka region, Jordan. A cross-sectional study among ever-married women aged 18-49 who visited the public health clinics in the governorate of Balka, Jordan, was carried out in August 2006. A total of 356 women was successfully interviewed. Descriptive statistics and adjusted odds ratios from logistic regression were used to assess associations between attitudes towards IPV and selected background variables. The vast majority (87%) of women reported different types of IPV against them in the last 12 months. The most common types of reported violence were emotional abuse (47.5%), followed by wife beating (19.6%). Almost one-third of women justified wife beating by husbands. Older age, younger age at marriage, rural residence, and non-working status were significantly associated with supportive attitudes towards wife beating. The study shows a high prevalence of IPV against women during the past year, and a high rate of justifications for wife beating. Increasing women's empowerment, particularly economic security through work outside the home, may protect women from violent behavior in this context.