Study on Violence Against Vulnerable Women and Optimizing Support Services

Gender-based and sexual violence in France primarily affects women, who account for 88% of victims. Each year, around 670,000 women experience this violence, including 213,000 at the hands of their current or former partner. Among them, 94,000 are victims of rape or attempted rape-that's one rape every 8 minutes. This violence particularly affects minors, with 59% of men accused of having victims under the age of 18. Yet only 1 in 5 victims files a complaint. In 2023, 134 women were killed by their spouse or former spouse. In addition to the direct victims, the children in the family are often co-victims, exposed to violence and suffering from serious psychological and behavioral consequences. In 2024, more than 450,000 victims of physical violence and 122,600 victims of sexual violence were recorded, a situation that is particularly alarming among women in vulnerable situations (minors, migrants, and the homeless). Some migrant women undergo female genital mutilation, resulting in lasting trauma. In 2010, the number of adult women who had undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in France was estimated at more than 124,000. Violence has serious impacts on physical and mental health: post-traumatic stress, sleep disorders, depression, risky behaviors, as well as an increased incidence of certain diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancers, gynecological conditions). Pregnancy is often an aggravating factor in domestic violence, with increased risks for both the mother and the child. Children exposed to domestic violence also suffer from various problems (developmental delays, behavioral disorders, and impaired self-esteem). On average, 3 femicides per day are recorded, whether direct or indirect.

Despite increased use of emergency rooms, medical follow-up for victims remains inconsistent. According to the WHO, this violence reduces women's healthy life expectancy by 1 to 4 years. Beyond individual suffering, this violence carries a heavy social and economic cost, affecting professional life, the ability to care for themselves and their children, and often leading to isolation. The main aim of this study is to assess improvements in quality of life at 6 months (baseline vs. 6-month comparison) following multidisciplinary care for vulnerable women or victims of violence referred to a specialized facility such as the Maison Des Femmes (MDF).

• Change in quality of life at 3 months [Time frame: Baseline]
• Change in quality of life at 3 months [Time frame: At 3 months]
• Change in sleep quality at 3 and 6 months compared to baseline. [Time frame: Baseline]
• Change in sleep quality at 3 and 6 months compared to baseline. [Time frame: At 3 months]
• Change in sleep quality at 3 and 6 months compared to baseline. [Time frame: At 6 months]
• Post-traumatic stress at 0, 3, and 6 months using the PCL-5 questionnaire. [Time frame: Baseline]
• Post-traumatic stress at 0, 3, and 6 months using the PCL-5 questionnaire. [Time frame: At 3 months]
• Post-traumatic stress at 0, 3, and 6 months using the PCL-5 questionnaire. [Time frame: At 6 months]
• Types and frequencies of various forms of vulnerability and violence against women [Time frame: Baseline]
• Types and frequencies of various forms of vulnerability and violence against women [Time frame: At 3 months]
• Types and frequencies of various forms of vulnerability and violence against women [Time frame: At 6 months]
• Types of treatments and care pathways used, and assessment of patient adherence [Time frame: Baseline]