Intimate Partner Violence against Women with Disabilities in Spain: A Public Health Problem

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jan 15;18(2):728. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18020728.

Abstract

Violence against women with disabilities is a social problem with important consequences for their physical and mental health. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared violence against women as a public health priority issue in 1996 and the fact that violence is used by the intimate partner and upon women with disabilities exacerbates the situation. Therefore, this is an issue that must be addressed from a public health viewpoint. Violence is studied from various aspects: Physical, psychological, sexual, or social control, and its multiple consequences in women's health and the use of health services. In this perspective, with the data from the VI Violence against Women Macro-survey 2019 (VWM-2019) and adjusted to Spain, this study examines the incidence of intimate partner violence and its consequences in the health of women with disabilities and its impact on health services. Using binary logistic regression, the greater vulnerability of this group to these attacks is stated and the need to address this issue to improve the health of these people is brought to light.

Keywords: Spain; disability; gender; intimate partner violence; public health; women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disabled Persons*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intimate Partner Violence*
  • Public Health
  • Sexual Partners
  • Spain / epidemiology