Demographic variables of domestic violence in a medicolegal office of Lahore

Objective: to determine the prevalence and to identify some socio-demographic factors associated with wife beating cases reported in the office of the medico legal,sir ganga ram hospital,lahore. study design: cross-sectional study. place and duration of study: office of the medico legal,sir ganga ram hospital,lahore,pakistan from january 2010 to november 2010 method: a random sample of 200 persons suffering from domestic violence reporting to the medico legal department. the main outcome measures studied were:-prevalence of domestic violence,education level and history of drug abuse.results:: the estimated prevalence rate of women victimization in domestic violence was 99%. f them 66% were wives beaten by their husbands. an inverse relationship was found between the domestic violence and the level of education. a positive history of drug abuse was also found in a significant number of batterers. conclusion: domestic violence is a major medico legal problem in our society,mostly affecting the females.