Ocular injuries in female victims of domestic violence in Brazzaville (Congo)

ABSTRACT

Objective. In the traditional African society, the social status of women remains precarious. The spouse who has ''spent money to acquire'' a woman often claims to have''every right over her''. In some cases the woman is subjected to abuse that can lead to death. The aim of the study was to describe ocular injuries in women who were victims of domestic violence in Brazzaville. Design. Cross-sectional study conducted at the University Hospital of Brazzaville between January 2013 and December 2014 (2 years). Data was obtained using a questionnaire sheet. The following parameters were analyzed age and level of education of spouses (below or above university) reason of dispute, mechanism of trauma and observed lesions. Subjects. Women admitted for an ocular injury that could jeopardize the visual and or vital prognosis (involvement of another vital organ during the same trauma) due to an incidence of domestic violence. Results. The study included a total of 15 women (and their corresponding 15 spouses). The average age of men and women was respectively 55 ± 10 and 35 ± 13 years. 73.33% of men had higher level of education compared to 53.33% of women. The main reasons of violence were jealousy (46.67%) and finance disputes (26.67%). The main mechanism of injury was a fist punch (80.00%), meanwhile, the major lesions observed were bursting of the eyeball (40.00%) and fracture of the orbital floor (26.67%). Conclusion. In Brazzaville, domestic violence is responsible for ocular injuries leading to irreversible blindness