Quality of Life of Females Exposed to Domestic Violence in Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Comparative Study

Background: Domestic violence is a pervasive issue affecting females worldwide, with detrimental effects on their overall well-being and quality of life. Aims: This study aims to compare the Quality of Life (QoL) of females exposed to domestic violence compared with females not exposed and to study the effect of the demographic variables on the QoL. Method: a comparative cross-sectional study design was used, with convenient and purposive sampling for the study group and the control group subsequently. A total of 46 females participated in the study (23 for each group) using the Kurdish version of the QoL questionnaire. Results: participants’ mean age was = 22.7 ± 7.6, minimum of 13 and a maximum of 44 years old, the majority were unmarried, with a primary educational level, do not have a job. Lower scores of QoL were found in the study group (Q2= 93.1%) compared to the control group (Q3= 95.7%). Conclusion: Exposure to domestic violence has a negative impact on the quality of life among females compared to non-victimized females. There are significant differences in the QoL between the study and the control group in the QoL domains, except in the social domain. There is a substantial association between QoL and age groups, marital status, occupation, and education. Further studies in this regard and education and awareness programs are required for youths and parents to learn about domestic violence and its consequences on the quality of health.