Response of Sudanese doctors to domestic violence
Ahmed, A.M.; Abdella, M.E.; Yousif, E.; Elmardi, A.E.
Saudi Medical Journal 24(10): 1077-1080
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0379-5284 PMID: 14578972 Document Number: 562087
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the awareness, and response of the Sudanese doctors to domestic violence. Methods: The study was carried out among the doctors of the Police University Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all doctors who were attendants at the hospital, one morning in July 2002. The information required from the surveyed doctors included their familiarity, and views on domestic violence as a health problem, number of cases of abuse encountered, barriers to diagnose or screen cases, their views on intervention beyond physical treatment and if they had been taught or trained in domestic violence. Results: Of 142 doctors who received the questionnaires, 102 returned it giving a response rate of 71.8%. The respondent's ages ranged from 25-54 years; 53 were female (51.9%); and 32 (31.3%) had experience of more than 10 years. Forty-three doctors (42.1%) had a fair knowledge of the concept of domestic violence, 28 (27.4%) viewed it as a worthwhile health problem and 21 (20.5%) reported encountering 1-2 cases in the last year. Barriers to screening cases included a lack of knowledge and training, insufficient time at clinics and fear of problems with perpetrators. The female gender and long professional experience had positive correlations with a better knowledge regarding violence and the desire to intervene beyond physical treatment (P<0.005). Conclusion: Our study clearly indicates the missing role of the medical profession in recognition and helping the victims of domestic violence. The authors discuss several suggestions to promote the role of doctors in addressing this problem.