CHAPTER 1. Introduction
Background to the Study 3
International research on prevalence of violence against women 4
Study objectives 6
Organization of the Study 7
Participating countries 7
References 9
Methods
CHAPTER 2. Definitions and questionnaire development = 13
Definitions 13
Formative research 16
Development of the questionnaire 17
Questionnaire structure 17
Maximizing disclosure 17
Country adaptation and translation of the questionnaire 18
References 18
CHAPTER 3. Sample design, ethical and safety considerations, and response rates 19
Sample design 19
Ethical and safety considerations 21
Response rates 22
References 24
Results
CHAPTER 4. Prevalence of violence by intimate partners = 27
Physical and sexual violence 28
Acts of physical violence 30
Acts of sexual violence 31
Overlap between physical and sexual violence 32
Demographic factors associated with violence 32
Acts of emotional abuse 35
Controlling behaviour 36
Women’s violence against men 36
CHAPTER 5. Prevalence of violence by perpetrators other than intimate partners since the age of 15 years = 43
Physical violence by non-partners since the age of 15 years 43
Sexual violence by non-partners since the age of 15 years 45
Overall prevalence of non-partner violence since the age of 15 years 45
Non-partner violence compared with partner violence 46
Discussion 46
References 48
CHAPTER 6. Prevalence of sexual abuse in childhood and forced first sexual experience = 49
Sexual abuse before 15 years 49
Forced first sex 51
Discussion 52
References 54
CHAPTER 7. Association between violence by intimate partners and women’s physical and mental health = 55
Women’s self-reported health and physical symptoms 55
Injuries caused by physical violence by an intimate partner 57
Mental health 59
Discussion 61
References 62
CHAPTER 8. Associations between violence by intimate partners and women’s sexual and reproductive health = 63
Induced abortion and miscarriage 63
Use of antenatal and postnatal health services 64
Violence during pregnancy 65
Parity 66
Risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV 66
Discussion 69
References 71
CHAPTER 9. Women’s coping strategies and responses to physical violence by intimate partners = 73
Who women tell about violence and who helps 73
Agencies or authorities to which women turn 74
Fighting back 76
Women who leave 77
Discussion 79
References 80
Conclusions and recommendations
CHAPTER 10. Summary of findings, conclusions, and areas for further research = 83
Prevalence and patterns of violence 83
Association of violence with specific health outcomes 85
Women’s responses and use of services 86
Strengths and limitations of the Study 87
Areas for further analysis 88
A basis for action 89
References 89
CHAPTER 11. Recommendations = 90
Strengthening national commitment and action 90
Promoting primary prevention 92
Involving the education sector 94
Strengthening the health sector response 95
Supporting women living with violence 96
Sensitizing criminal justice systems 96
Supporting research and collaboration 97
References 98
Annex 1 Methodology = 101
Annex 2 Core Research Team and Steering Committee Members =118
Annex 3 Country research team members = 119
Annex 4 Questionnaire = 127
Statistical appendix = 166
Index = 198
Background to the Study 3
International research on prevalence of violence against women 4
Study objectives 6
Organization of the Study 7
Participating countries 7
References 9
Methods
CHAPTER 2. Definitions and questionnaire development = 13
Definitions 13
Formative research 16
Development of the questionnaire 17
Questionnaire structure 17
Maximizing disclosure 17
Country adaptation and translation of the questionnaire 18
References 18
CHAPTER 3. Sample design, ethical and safety considerations, and response rates 19
Sample design 19
Ethical and safety considerations 21
Response rates 22
References 24
Results
CHAPTER 4. Prevalence of violence by intimate partners = 27
Physical and sexual violence 28
Acts of physical violence 30
Acts of sexual violence 31
Overlap between physical and sexual violence 32
Demographic factors associated with violence 32
Acts of emotional abuse 35
Controlling behaviour 36
Women’s violence against men 36
CHAPTER 5. Prevalence of violence by perpetrators other than intimate partners since the age of 15 years = 43
Physical violence by non-partners since the age of 15 years 43
Sexual violence by non-partners since the age of 15 years 45
Overall prevalence of non-partner violence since the age of 15 years 45
Non-partner violence compared with partner violence 46
Discussion 46
References 48
CHAPTER 6. Prevalence of sexual abuse in childhood and forced first sexual experience = 49
Sexual abuse before 15 years 49
Forced first sex 51
Discussion 52
References 54
CHAPTER 7. Association between violence by intimate partners and women’s physical and mental health = 55
Women’s self-reported health and physical symptoms 55
Injuries caused by physical violence by an intimate partner 57
Mental health 59
Discussion 61
References 62
CHAPTER 8. Associations between violence by intimate partners and women’s sexual and reproductive health = 63
Induced abortion and miscarriage 63
Use of antenatal and postnatal health services 64
Violence during pregnancy 65
Parity 66
Risk of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV 66
Discussion 69
References 71
CHAPTER 9. Women’s coping strategies and responses to physical violence by intimate partners = 73
Who women tell about violence and who helps 73
Agencies or authorities to which women turn 74
Fighting back 76
Women who leave 77
Discussion 79
References 80
Conclusions and recommendations
CHAPTER 10. Summary of findings, conclusions, and areas for further research = 83
Prevalence and patterns of violence 83
Association of violence with specific health outcomes 85
Women’s responses and use of services 86
Strengths and limitations of the Study 87
Areas for further analysis 88
A basis for action 89
References 89
CHAPTER 11. Recommendations = 90
Strengthening national commitment and action 90
Promoting primary prevention 92
Involving the education sector 94
Strengthening the health sector response 95
Supporting women living with violence 96
Sensitizing criminal justice systems 96
Supporting research and collaboration 97
References 98
Annex 1 Methodology = 101
Annex 2 Core Research Team and Steering Committee Members =118
Annex 3 Country research team members = 119
Annex 4 Questionnaire = 127
Statistical appendix = 166
Index = 198