Determination of the presence, types and factors causing spouse violence by married men

The purpose of this study is to examine the presence, patterns and determinants of spouse violence among 25-49 years old men.The cross-sectional study was conducted in the Esentepe Health Centre district. Population of the participants comprised of 2,615 married men aged vary between 25 to 49 years. These data were recorded by using household registration cards in 2006. Including the 10% substitute, 254 men were estimated to be sampled by taking into consideration of 12% anticipated population prevalance, 95% confidence level and 4 percentage points of precision. The indicated data were collected by a structured questionnaire implemented during home visits. An affirmative response to at least one of the 14 psychological abuse questions, 4 economic abuse questions, 11 physical abuse questions or 2 sexual abuse questions were defined as ?violence?.The response rate was 50.7% (n=129). Frequency of psychological, economic, physical and sexual abuse of spouse was estimated to 93%, %34.4, %37.5 and 3.9%, respectively.The results of the univariate analysis revealed that psychological abuse was significantly high among the women with an education level above primary school whereas the economic abuse was significantly more prevelant among the women who suffer a chronic disease.The major statistical significant determinant of physical abuse included low level of education (e.g. primary school or below), unemployement or irregular (informal) employement, alcohol consumption in men, men?s perception of communication as good or moderate, presence of violence against women in men?s neighbourhood, spouse age between 25-34 years and presence of undesired pregnancy.The factors determined by the logistic regression analysis comprised of unemployment or irregular employement, daily alcohol consumption or several times in a week, presence of undesired pregnancy and women age between 25-34 years.Conclusion: The results of the study showed that psychological abuse was more frequent than expected; for example, one of the three men applies economic and physical abuse against his sposes. Sexual abuse was considered to be higer than the low level determined.Keywords: domestic violence, violence against women, health, discrimination against women.