Butajira Rural Health Program: Women's Health and Life Events Study in Rural Ethiopia

This report presents major findings from a field research conducted in Meskan and Mareko district in south central Ethiopia. The research was conducted by a multidisciplinary team with extensive field research experiences in the areas of domestic violence reproductive health mental health and epidemiology. Over 3000 women were systematically selected for the study both from urban and rural areas. Data were collected using standard questionnaires for domestic violence and mental health developed by the World Health. The results show that 59% of women suffered from sexual violence and 49% from physical violence by a partner at some point in their lives. During the twelve months prior to the survey 44% of women reported sexual violence and 29% suffered partner violence. Major lifetime mental health problems include depressive episode Somatoform disorder and recurrent depressive episodes diagnosed in 6% 3% and 2% of the women respectively. Women who suffered from domestic violence also reported more symptoms of mental distress although the degree of association is not fully explored in this report. The majority of violence reported by women was inflected by intimate partners. The low status of women in the society a lack of general awareness about human/women’s rights and weakness in the law enforcement system are some of the reasons for the wide spread violence. To end violence against women and promote a healthy and secure life for women coordinated efforts by all concerned are needed. Efforts must also focus in improving the conditions of the family as a whole. (authors)