By Fatima Al-Dubais

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — A recent study has found that more than 45 percent of the women visiting the Women Assistance Office at the Riyadh Personal Status Court are divorcees.

The study also showed that 45 percent of the visitors were married, 7.5 percent were single women and 1 percent widows. About 44 percent of the visitors were employed, 42 percent housewives, 13 percent students and less than 1 percent were retired employees.

The study was conducted by Amjad Al-Zoman as part of her Master’s program in social service for the current academic semester.

Al-Zoman's study also revealed the satisfaction rate of visitors to the office about its services.

It said 98 percent of the visitors found the office to be very helpful and it considerably reduced their time and effort while visiting the court. At the same time, 93.5 percent of the visitors found the psychological support the office provided to be very effective.

The study said 98 percent of the visitors found the employees of the center to be knowledgeable about court proceedings while 96 percent said the employees were competent to deal with their problems.

The study made a number of recommendations, including the need to contracting legal offices and hiring psychologists and social workers to help the visitors. It also suggested that similar offices be set up help women in other courts including the criminal and general courts.

The study recommended that the Mawaddah Charity Organization get involved by offering training to current and future employees of the office.