Socioeconomic and Demographic Determinants of Marital Violence Against Women in Palestine

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the demographic, social, and economic factors that affect the prevalence rates of marital violence against Palestinian women. The present study used survey data. The declaration of violence in Palestinian society was made in 2019 by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. The study sample consisted of 5,114 married women or formerly married women. In addition, the study used the descriptive approach to describe the demographic, social, and economic variables that affect the prevalence of marital violence against women (MVAW). Binary logistic regression was utilized to investigate the determinants of MVAW. The study concluded that young women are more susceptible to all forms of violence. An increase in the number of children in a family is correlated with higher rates of violence, and the women who are living in the Gaza Strip have elevated odds of experiencing MVAW if compared to women living in the West Bank. Women in low-income families are more susceptible to marital violence than women from affluent families. Currently, working women are less vulnerable to MVAW than their non-working counterparts. The study recommends further research and collaboration between government and non-government organizations to prevent the expansion of this problem.