ABSTRACT
Intimate partner violence [IPV] is a global public health problem that violates fundamental human rights of women. Although intimate partner violence has been reported to be common, the magnitude of the violence and consequences are not usually identified and reported .Therefore; this study aimed at estimating the prevalence of IPV and its impact on life satisfaction in two community-based samples from Egypt Cairo governorate and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA] [Riyadh].a comparative design was utilized in this study. A convenient sample consisted of 200 women was recruited, 100 women from each community. The study was carried out in two different settings, the Gynecological Out-patient Clinic at El- Manial University Hospital [Cairo] and the Out-patient Clinic of Maternal and Child Health [MCH] Centre [Riyadh]. Tools for data collection included the following: 1] Interview questionnaire sheet, includes subject's socio -demographic characteristics 2] Intimate Partner Violence [IPV] questionnaire, Hassan [2003] and 3] Life Satisfaction Questionnaire [LSQ]. El-Dosouki [1998] Results of this study revealed a statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding to socio-demographic characteristics. Prevalence of IPV was 74% in Egyptian group and 34% in the Saudi group [p <0.001]. In Egyptian group, psychological IPV was the most frequent [72%], followed by sexual [63%] then physical violence [29%]. The same ranking was seen in Saudi group with frequencies of 31%, 20% and 14%, respectively. However, sexual IPV was more frequent in the Egyptian group [p = 0.003]. There was a significant negative correlation between the total score of IPV and the LSQ score [r =-0.582]. IPV of all aspects was within the global figures. Low Income and large number of children were the two main factors associated with higher prevalence of IPV. The IPV is a real public health problem that necessitates counseling and out-reach program as well as social and economic solutions, the study recommended that organizations for violence against women should be activated to identify, screen, counsel and refer for appropriate services