Risk markers of severe psychological violence against women: a WorldSAFE multi-country study

Abstract

This study was an attempt to determine the prevalence and significant risk factors associated with severe psychological violence in 6 WorldSAFE sites. The respondents were 3975 women aged 15-49 years and residing in selected urban areas in Chile, Egypt, the Philippines and India. Using a standard instrument translated locally, psychological violence was measured using items indicating the following domains: verbal abuse, fear and separation. A woman who had experienced severe psychological violence had admitted that she had experienced any of the above-mentioned behaviors '3 or more times' in her lifetime (lifetime prevalence) or with her current partner during the past 12 months (current prevalence). The results showed a lifetime prevalence of severe psychological violence ranging from 10.5% of women in Egypt to about 50% in Chile and Trivandrum, India. Verbal abuse was most common among the different behavioral indicators. A woman's mental health status and partner alcohol use were found to be the common significant risk factors. Recommendations were made to facilitate efforts to address severe psychological violence in developing countries.

Exposição à violência e problemas de saúde mental em países em desenvolvimento: uma revisão da literatura

“…16 In ten studies, samples were comprised only by women. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] These studies assessed predominantly intimate-partner violence, [17][18][19][20][21]25,[28][29][30] sexual violence, 26,29 domestic violence, 27,31 war-related traumatic events, 26 and occupational violence. [22][23][24] The outcomes assessed were mental health problems, including emotional distress 25 and psychiatric symptoms, 26,31 alcohol and drugs misuse, 23,27 CMD, 21,28 depression and suicidal ideation.…”

“…A multi-country cross-sectional study 17,18 found that the lifetime prevalence rates of physical intimate-partner violence were 24.9% in Chile, 11.1% in Egypt, 21.1% in Philippines and from 31% to 43.1% in the three Indian cities studied. The same study found that the proportion of women who reported being victims of psychological violence perpetrated by their intimate-partner was 50.7% in Chile, 10.5% in Egypt, 19.3% in the Philippines, and from 24.7% to 50.1% in India.…”

Examining the Determinants of Sexual Violence Among Young, Married Women in Southern India

“…These behaviors, in turn, have been established as determinants of physical and sexual violence (Go et al, 2003; Jeyaseelan et al, 2007, 2004; Krishnan, 2005b; Martin, Kilgallen et al, 1999; Ramiro et al, 2004). …”

“…The occupation of being a “driver” was retained as an independent category because this had the single largest frequency in the raw data. Furthermore, occupations involving mobility have been directly associated with increased risky behaviors for men, which in turn influence women’s risk of GBV (Go et al, 2003; Jeyaseelan et al, 2007, 2004; Krishnan, 2005b; Martin, Kilgallen et al, 1999; Ramiro, Hassan, & Peedicayil, 2004; Saggurti, Schensul, & Verma, 2009; Sopheab, Fylkesnes, Vun, & O’Farrell, 2006), therefore rendering it important to study the independent effects of husbands’ employment as drivers on women’s risk of violence. At the household level, a dichotomous measure of monthly household income was included (income less than INR 4,000 or INR 4,000 or more), and lower income was hypothesized to increase women’s risk for sexual violence.…”

A Community Health Programme in Rural Tamil Nadu, India: The Need for Gender Justice for Women

“…These include the declining sex ratio at birth, 1 persisting gender inequalities related to health, [2][3][4] low levels of enrollment and attendance at school of girls, high school drop-out rates and lower educational status among women, 5 unequal wages for women for similar work as men's, 6 greater unemployment among women and labour laws that favour men, 7 problems with micro-credit schemes and their failure to empower women economically, 8 an association between female gender, low education, poverty and anxiety and depression, 9 and the physical and psychological abuse of women. 7,[10][11][12][13][14][15] The social structure of Indian society and the secondary position women occupy significantly influence every aspect of health. 16 Very often the goals of many programmes for women are a rehash of internationally set goals, some of which are not achievable.…”