Fatal and Nonfatal Domestic Violence among Females, Iraq, 2010–2022

Abstract Background: Violence against women is a significant public health and medicolegal issue, affecting women’s full participation in society, leading to disability and death, particularly in societies where it is a socially accepted norm. Objectives: The study examines the trend and the incidence of fatal and nonfatal female domestic injuries in Iraq from 2010 to 2022. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive desk review was conducted on all records of females exposed to domestic violence as reported in the Iraqi Injury Surveillance System from 2010 to 2022. The population data of the country and provinces were obtained from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Planning. Results: Out of 848,665 injury records during the period between 2010 and 2022, 100,568 (11.9%) were fatal, 36,417 (36.2%) were domestic, and 41% were females. The incidence of fatal domestic violence rose steadily from 2010 to 2014, reached a plateau in 2019, and spiked again in 2020. Fatal female domestic injuries were more common among females younger than 30 years (65.5%), especially those aged 20–29 years. Females’ fatal domestic injury was 10.9%; the highest was 32% in 2010, and the lowest was 0% in 2011 and 2.4% in 2012. In 2020, it rose to 17.4%. The burn was the most frequent cause (43.1%) of fatal domestic injuries, followed by gunfire (16%) and then electric shocks (15.2%). Conclusion: Domestic violence against females spiked during the terroristic violence time in 2014 and the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Mass media campaigns and law enforcement to combat this phenomenon are urgently warranted.