Citation

Sewalem J, Molla A. BMC Womens Health 2022; 22(1): e187.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12905-022-01770-6

PMID

35597941

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gender-based violence is an act that has physical, psychological, and sexual consequences for women. It is a widespread issue, particularly in developing countries, and it causes women mental distress. Despite the fact that gender-based violence has a significant impact on mental distress, there have no study in Ethiopia. As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of mental distress among mothers who had experienced gender-based violence and were in court.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 423 samples. The data was entered into Epi-data version 3.01 and analyzed with SPSS version 21. Binary logistic regression was used, and variables with p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant with regard to mental distress at the respective 95% CI.

RESULT: The prevalence of mental distress was found to be 59.6% in this study. Mental distress was associated with factors such as a lack of social support, a lack of formal education, a husband's substance use, rural residence, age greater than 33 years, and a low family income.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of mental distress is high when compared to the majority of previous findings from other countries. Screening and managing psychological distress in women with a history of violence is preferable, and integrating psychosocial care into court services is recommended.

Language: en

Keywords

Gender; Violence; Ethiopia; Court; Mental distress