UNDERSTANDING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN: INSIGHTS FROM A MIXED-METHODS APPROACH

Background Violence against women remains one of the most widespread, persistent, and damaging violations of human rights. Despite greater awareness in the era of social communication, many cases remain unreported due to stigma, silence, and fear. Domestic violence not only impacts women directly but also harms families and society at large. The present study aimed to examine the prevalence, related factors, and lived experiences of domestic violence against women. Study design: Mixed-method design Duration and place of study: This study was conducted in Karachi Medical and Dental College Karachi from July 2024 to July 2025 Methods A mixed-methods design was used, integrating a cross-sectional descriptive approach with qualitative phenomenology. In the quantitative phase, 50 married women were recruited through cluster sampling and assessed using a structured domestic violence questionnaire. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. In the qualitative phase, purposive sampling identified women who had experienced domestic violence. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation, and findings were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step framework. Results The qualitative analysis revealed seven core themes: “Facilitators,” “Role failure,” “Repressors,” “Efforts to preserve the family,” “Inappropriate conflict resolution,” “Consequences,” and “Inefficient support systems.” Quantitative results showed significant positive associations between violence and factors such as age, age difference between spouses, and duration of marriage, while the number of children was inversely related to violence scores (p < 0.05). Higher levels of female education and income were independently linked to increased reporting of violence. Conclusions Domestic violence against women is influenced by identifiable demographic and social factors, and its consequences extend beyond the individual to families and communities. Preventive interventions, early action plans, and effective support mechanisms that challenge cultural taboos are urgently needed to mitigate harm and promote resilience among affected women.