Domestic Violence in Urban and Rural Romanian Communities

Domestic violence is an important public health problem worldwide, associated with adverse health consequences. Routine screening for domestic violence by health care professionals has been recommended as an intervention strategy; but health care providers rarely incorporate universal screening into their practice, especially in communities characterized by persistent patriarchy and gender inequities. In this context, we are running a Grant (Project 72/2008, financially supported by CNCSIS-UEFISCSU) aimed to evaluate the reproductive health quality in south-western Romania. We interviewed 1.200 people, men and women, equally distributed by residence environment (urban/rural), age groups and instruction level, about violent behaviors in their families. Violent behaviors reported by the subjects (about always women) include psychological abuse such as insults, oaths and humiliation (39.1%), physical aggression such as slapping, kicking and beating (28.1%), restriction of affection (14.2%), forced intercourse (9.8%), and various controlling behaviors such as monitoring their activities, food and/or money (7.9%). The incidence of all these violent behaviors is strongly influenced by the age (p<0.001), being higher in old people. Psychological and physical aggressions occur more frequently in rural than in urban families (p<0.006); they are generated by men with an elementary educational level (p<0.001). The results of the study shows further researches are needed in order to better understand the best approach to screen for domestic violence. Screening for violence in primary health care settings may help detect and reduce violence, but intervention programs are also needed to provide support and medical services to the victims.