Violence against Women with Disabilities and Mental Health in Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia: Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) with disabilities is a public health concern worldwide.  This study is aimed at examining the prevalence of VAWG among women and girls with disabilities (WGWD), identifying associated factors, and investigating its association with mental health issues in the Gurage Zone. A structured questionnaire was used to conduct a community-based cross-sectional study with 219 WGWD. Descriptive statistics were used to determine prevalence, and logistic regression analyses were utilized to examine the relationships between sociodemographic variables, VAWG, and mental health outcomes. The overall prevalence of VAWG was 65.3%, with psychological violence (52.1%), followed by physical (49.3%) and sexual violence (33.8%). VAWG was found to be significantly linked with income, education, and marital status. Exposure to VAWG was also linked to an increased risk of anxiety (OR=4.52), depression (OR=3.10), and PTSD (OR=4.86). These findings suggest that WGWD face a high risk of both violence and negative mental health consequences. As a result, targeted and integrated interventions are required to reduce violence and enhance access to mental health care for WGWD.