Summary 50 women were enlisted with ages ranging between 18 and 49 years Verbal threats physical beatings, verbal abuse and non-consensual sexual intercourse were the forms Domestic violence took.

Method A semistructured schedule based on Convenience sampling Method was used. The 50 women were drawn from a drop-in centre for abused women in Lusaka.

Results 29 out of 50 or 58% were married, 7 or 14% were single, 6 or 12% were divorcees and 8 or 16% were widowed.

38 (6%) lived in high density or medium cost housing, 11 or 22% where from low density housing.

Of the 14 that responded to the question of education status, 12 or 86% had primary education while only 2 or 15% had secondary education. 12 of the 14 or 85% were unemployed. 33 out the 50 or 66% reported battering by the intimate partner.

Outcomes included non-consensual sexual intercourse 30%, 26% had unplanned pregnancies, 16% or 8 had sexually transmitted diseases, while 6 or 12.5% contemplated divorce. 66% of the women even contemplated suicide.

15 or 30% said their spouses often took alcohol in excess.

Injuries included lacerations 5 (10%), bruises 19 (38%), brunt trauma 3 or 6% while the rest had undefined injuries.

Discussions and conclusions Domestic violence, perpetrated by intimate sexual partners who often took alcohol is common and manifested as non-consensual sex, batterings partners and verbal abuse. Psychosocial trauma, contraction of sexually transmitted diseases, unplanned pregnancies, attempted suicides and physical injuries were effects.