Zahra Ghiasi - Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Younes Zaheri - Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical School, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Abolfazl Payandeh - Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Health, Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Milad Shahbandari - Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical School, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Fahimeh Sabzehali - Department of Clinical Psychology, Medical School, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran
Hadi Ranjbar - Mental Health Research Center, Psychosocial Health Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) against women who are undergoing methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) and its related risk factors. Methods: This case-control study was conducted on ۱۹۵ women who were under MMT and a control group consisting of ۱۹۵ women who were not under it in the city of Zahedan from ۲۲ May to ۱ December ۲۰۱۹. Data were collected using a questionnaire for the measurement of violence against women and a sociodemographic questionnaire. In order to analyze the data, the t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis were used. Findings: In the case group, ۶۷.۲% of participants had experienced DV during the past year. In the control group, the prevalence was ۷۸.۵%. The rate of more than one occasion of DV was significantly higher in the group who were under MMT (P<۰.۰۵). The most common type of violence was mental abuse. Physical, sexual, and economic abuses were in the next ranks. Important predictors of DV, in order of importance, were: the women’s low educational level, smoking, income level, and polygamy (P<۰.۰۵). Conclusion: MMT is not a risk factor for DV. It seems that the rate of DV against women in Zahedan is very high. The prevalence of recurrent DV in women under MMT was higher than in the general population.

Domestic violence, Women, Addiction, Methadone treatment therapy, risk factors