[Violence against women among urban area residents in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil].

OBJECTIVE To analyze the occurrence of physical and/or psychological violence according to sociodemographic variables, lifestyle habits, and medical conditions in a Brazilian urban population. METHODS This epidemiological, cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative sample of the urban population of Feira de Santana, state of Bahia, Brazil, aged > 15 years. We used a semistructured questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic variables, lifestyle habits, medical conditions, and acts of victimization. RESULTS Among the respondents, women presented an increased incidence of physical and/or psychological violence when compared with men. Violence against women showed to be related with the presence of comorbidities that adversely affect women's health. CONCLUSIONS Health and safety policies in the municipality assessed should include actions aimed at preventing violence against women, in view of the high incidence of the problem and its strong impact on population health.