Consumption of alcohol and tobacco by women and the occurrence of violence by intimate partner

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the consumption of alcohol and tobacco by women and the occurrence of intimate partner violence against women. Method: a cross-sectional and analytical study with 369 women in the age group of 20 to 59 years, attended in Basic Health Units of five municipalities of Piaui, Brazil. The instruments used in data collection were Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Non-Student Drugs Use Questionnaire and Revised Conflict Tactics Scales. Data were analyzed according to descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis with Pearson’s chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: the overall prevalence of intimate partner violence against women was 64.0%, 61.5% of whom were victims of psychological aggression, 33.6% of physical abuse and 17.1% of sexual coercion. In addition, 50.1% and 17.9% of the women reported alcohol and tobacco consumption, respectively, which were statistically associated with the occurrence of intimate partner violence. Alcohol consumption increased by 2.15 times the chance of intimate partner raping (p=0.001, 95% CI=1.37-3.38), while smoking increased this chance by 2.04 times (p=0.038, 95% CI=1.04-4.00). Conclusion: high prevalence of alcohol and tobacco use by women and intimate partner violence were identified. In addition, it was found that the consumption of these substances by women is a risk factor associated with the occurrence of intimate partner violence in the female universe.