PREVALENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MIDDLE-AGED WOMEN WHO REFERRED TO HEALTH CENTERS IN AHVAZ, 2013

Introduction: Violence against women is a global phenomenon that is so characteristic of the cultural, social, ethnic, racial and even the rules governing a community at any time and place to appear different statements. The extent of violence against women is widespread in human history. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with violence in middle-aged women referred to health centers in Ahvaz done. Methods: This research is a cross-sectional study. number of 1266 middle- aged women, 45- 64 years were randomly selected by lottery from among six health centers in Ahvaz city. The questionnaire included a demographic and related factors to violence consists of 30 items And the questionnaire of violence, scale abuse with the woman is a scale that consists of three domains: psychological, physical, and life-threatening form of the modified instrument, "Strauss conflict tactics scale" have been revised conflict Tactics scale is intended. To obtain scientific validity of the content validity and reliability, Cronbach's alpha was used to determine and In order to verify the reliability of the questionnaires were completed by the researcher from the thirty people who were eligible for the study. The results were assessed using Cronbach's alpha and Pearson correlation coefficient was 0/85. Results: The results showed that 32. 1 percent of the samples had experienced violence and frequency of violence, including, psychological violence 30.5, verbal16. 6, financial 10.6 and physically 8. 9 percent were reported. duration of abuse, violence agent, history of husband previous marriage and have children from husband previous marriage [p0. 001], health status of women [p =0. 012], supervisor [p =0.024], number of children [p =0.017], and the supervisor of addiction to tobacco or drugs [p =0. 006] have Significant relationship with the experience of violence. Conclusion: According to the results, paying attention to abused women and appropriate strategies to reduce the mentioned problem, it seems necessary. Keywords: domestic violence, middle-aged women, individual characteristic