[01] Hussein H., Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [02] Al Faisal W., Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [03] Al Serkal F., Health Centers Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [04] El Sawaf E., Health Centers Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [05] Wasfy A., Statistics and Research Department, Ministry of Health, Dubai, UAE.

Background: Violence is a major obstacle to development. The manifestations and forms of violence vary in different settings. “Domestic violence” has been used to describe acts of violence between family members, including adult partners, a parent against a child, caretakers or partners against elders and between siblings. Objectives: To study physical health and medication related consequences of domestic violence among Dubai women population and the extent to which intimate partner violence is associated with a range of health outcomes. Methodology: A cross sectional study on 700 Emirati women selected randomly from Primary health care centers by systematic random sampling using Epi-info epidemiological software. All ever-married women aged 15-49 years, and seeking medical care in PHC at Dubai. A structured standardized interview questionnaire was utilized as data collection tool. Results: A significant high percentage of women reported a range of current (within the past weeks) effects on health, including self-perceived poor health, problems with activities of daily living, and other physical health indicators. It was noted that a significant high percentage of women exposed to physical violence or a combination of physical with sexual or a combination of three types of violence had current ill health than women exposed to other types of violence or other combinations. High percentage of women experience lifetime of different types of IPV were also significant association with usage of medication (either prescription or over- the-counter) within the past 4 weeks. The results shows that lower percentage of women who are not exposed to physical violence are using medication to sleep (8%), to reduce depression (6.8%), to reduce pain (40%) compared to those exposed to different type of violence. Conclusions: Women who were exposed to violence reported current symptoms of many problems. Women who experienced any type of violence alone or in a combination will use medication to reduce pain, sleep and treat depression. Experiencing Moderate to severe physical violence, combination of physical and sexual violence and any type of IPV are the predictors.

Physical Health, Medication, Consequences, Domestic Violence, Dubai

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