Sexual coercion of married women in Nepal

Abstract

BackgroundSexual coercion is an important public health issue due to its negative association with social and health outcomes. The paper aims to examine the prevalence of sexual coercion perpetrated by husbands on their wives in Nepal and to identify the characteristics associated with this phenomenon.MethodsThe data used in this paper comes from a cross-sectional survey on "Domestic Violence in Nepal" carried out in 2009. A total of 1,536 married women were interviewed and associations between sexual coercion and the explanatory variables were assessed via bivariate analysis using Chi-square tests. Logistic regression was then applied to assess the net effect of several independent variables on sexual coercion.ResultsOverall, about three in five women (58%) had experienced some form of sexual coercion by their husbands. Logistic regression analysis found that the literacy status of women, decision-making power regarding their own health care, husband-wife age differences, alcohol consumption by the husband, and male patriarchal control all had significant associations with women's experience of sexual coercion. Literate women had 28% less chance (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.72) of experiencing sexual coercion by their husbands than did illiterate women. Women who made decisions jointly with their husbands with regard to their own health care were 36% less likely (aOR = 0.64) to experience sexual coercion than those whose health care was decided upon by their mothers/fathers-in-law. On the other hand, women whose husbands were 5 or more years older than they were more likely to report sexual coercion (aOR = 1.33) than were their counterparts, as were women whose husbands consumed alcohol (aOR = 1.27). Furthermore, women who experienced higher levels of patriarchal control from their husbands were also more likely to experience sexual coercion by their husbands (aOR = 7.2) compared to those who did not face such control.ConclusionThe study indicates that sexual coercion among married women is widespread in Nepal. Programs should focus on education and women's empowerment to reduce sexual coercion and protect women's health and rights. Furthermore, campaigns against alcohol abuse and awareness programs targeting husbands should also focus attention on the issue of sexual coercion.

Acceptance of Wife Beating and Its Association with Physical Violence towards Women in Nepal: A Cross-Sectional Study Using Couple’s Data

“…This is in accordance with earlier studies conducted in rural Nepal [25], [37]. Women’s acceptance of wife beating did not predict violence from husbands, though there was no significant difference in acceptance of wife beating between couples.…”

Intimate partner violence (physical and sexual) and sexually transmitted infection: results from Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2011

“…A cross sectional study conducted among 1,296 rural married women of 15–24 years of age representing four major ethnic groups of four districts (Dolkha, Sindhupalchowk, Dang, and Kapilbastu) in Nepal reported that 46% had experienced sexual violence from husbands at some point of life and 31% experienced sexual violence in the last 12 months 3. Another cross sectional study among 1,536 reproductive age married women of four districts (Achham, Gulmi, Rupendehi, and Ilam) reported that 58% had experienced sexual violence from their husbands at some point in their lives 4. Similarly, another study interviewed 791 married women of reproductive age from rural parts of six districts (Dadeldhura, Nawalparasi, Makwanpur, Siraha, Sindhupalchowk, and Sankhuwashava) of Nepal revealed that 16.6% experienced sexual violence from intimate partners at any point of life and 7.1% had sexual violence from an intimate partner in the last 12 months 5.…”

Evlilik İçi Cinsel Saldırı Olgularını Ruhsal Bulgular Olmadan Tespit Etmek Mümkün mü?

“…Evlilik içi cinsel saldırı tanısı çok güç olan önemli bir halk sağlığı sorunudur (12)(13)(14)(15). Dünya'da evli kadınların % 15-71'inin eşleri tarafından tecavüze uğradıkları bildirilmiştir (16).…”

“…Dünya'da evli kadınların % 15-71'inin eşleri tarafından tecavüze uğradıkları bildirilmiştir (16). Nepal'de yapılan bir çalışmada her 5 evli kadından 3'ünün eşleri tarafından cinsel saldırıya maruz kaldığı belirlenmiştir (13). Etiyopya'da bu oranın % 46 olduğu bildirilmiştir (17).…”

“…Literatürde, evlilik içi cinsel saldırı için, küçük yaşta evliliklerin, eğitim seviyesinin düşük olmasının önemli risk faktörleri olduğunu göstermektedir (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)22,23,25). Çalışmamızda literatür ile uyumlu olarak, olguların % 48,2'sinin 17-24 yaş grubunda oldukları, cinsel saldırının genellikle evlilik ile başladığı anlaşılmaktadır.…”