Women's Autonomy and Intimate Partner Violence in Peru: Analysis of a National Health Survey

Witnessing inter-parental violence in childhood and help-seeking behaviours in violence against women in Peru

BACKGROUND

Violence against women (VAW) severely impacts their physical and mental health. In some cultures, women can normalize certain types of violence if they were linked to home models in childhood and, eventually, do not seek for help in adulthood. We aimed to determine, in Peruvian women, (1) the association between witnessing violence in their family of origin and VAW experienced in adulthood, (2) the extent to which women who have experienced VAW seek some help, and (3) identify VAW prevalence by Peruvian region.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of secondary data obtained from the 2019 National Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES). The outcome was VAW (psychological, physical and sexual violence), whereas the exposure was witnessing violence in the home of origin. Help-seeking behavior was a secondary outcome, for which VAW was the exposure. Prevalence ratios (PR) were estimated to assess both associations, unadjusted and adjusted for covariates (aPR).

RESULTS

Data from 14,256 women aged 15 to 49 years were analysed. 51.5% reported having experienced VAW and 43.8% witnessed violence in the home of origin during childhood. Witnessing inter-parental violence in childhood was associated with psychological violence aPR = 1.25 (95% CI: 1.17-1.33), physical aPR = 1.52 (95% CI: 1.38-1.67), and sexual aPR = 1.99 (95% CI: 1.57-2.52). Women who have experienced both types of violence (physical and sexual) were more likely to help-seeking (aPR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.14-1.50) than women suffering only one type of violence.

CONCLUSION

Women who reported having witnessed home violence in their childhood are more likely to experience Violence Against Women (VAW) by their current partner. Physical and sexual violence with a current partner was more associated with witnessing inter-parental violence in childhood, and when physical and sexual violence jointly occurred women were more help-seeking. The southern region of Peru is identified as an area of high vulnerability for women. It is crucial to promote educative and community-based programs aimed at the prevention and early recognition of VAW.

Impact of the minimum wage increase on intimate partner violence (IPV): a quasi-experimental study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Poverty is associated with intimate partner violence (IPV), but whether exogenous increases in wage could reduce IPV among low-income women is still unclear. We examined whether the 2018 minimum wage hike led to a reduction in IPV risk among women.

METHODS

Using the 2015-2019 Korean Welfare Panel Study, we employed a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to assess the effect of the minimum wage hike on IPV. The analysis focused on married women aged 19 or older. We categorised participants into a target group (likely affected by the minimum wage increase) and a comparison group based on their hourly wage. Three IPV outcomes were examined: verbal abuse, physical threat and physical assault. We conducted DID analyses with two-way fixed-effects models.

RESULTS

The increase in minimum wage was correlated with a 3.2% decrease in the likelihood of experiencing physical threat among low-income female workers (95% CI: -6.2% to -0.1%). However, the policy change did not significantly influence the risk of verbal abuse, physical assault or a combined IPV outcome. The study also highlights a higher incidence of all IPV outcomes in the target group compared with the comparison group.

CONCLUSIONS

The 2018 minimum wage increase in Korea was associated with a modest reduction in physical threat among low-income female workers. While economic empowerment through minimum wage policies may contribute to IPV prevention, additional measures should be explored. Further research is needed to understand the intricate relationship between minimum wage policies and IPV, and evidence-based prevention strategies are crucial to address IPV risk.

Association between witnessing domestic violence against the mother in childhood and intimate partner violence in adulthood: A population-based analysis of Peru

Objective

To assess the association between witnessing domestic violence against the mother in childhood and intimate partner violence (IPV) in adulthood.

Study design

An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2019 Peruvian Demographic and Family Health Survey (ENDES). The independent variable was the condition of witnessing physical violence by the father against the mother during childhood. The dependent variable was IPV, defined by the presence of some subtype of violence (physical, psychological, and sexual) against the respondent in the last year by her husband or partner. To assess this association, generalized linear models of the Poisson Family with a logarithmic link function were performed to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

Results

Data from 17,911 Peruvian women between 15 and 59 years of age were analyzed. Most women were between 30 and 49 years old (71.4%), were cohabiting (65.0%), and had secondary education (43.2%). The prevalence of IPV in the last year was 16.0%, and the history of witnessing domestic violence against the mother during childhood was 42.0%. In the regression models, those with the studied exposure showed a higher prevalence of experiencing an episode of IPV in the last year (any IPV [aPR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.50-1.91]; physical IPV [aPR: 1.70; 95% CI: 1.43-2.02], psychological IPV [aPR: 1.64; 95% CI:1.42-1.88], and sexual IPV [aPR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.22-2.32]).

Conclusions

Women with a history of domestic violence towards their mothers were likelier to have had IPV in the last year than women who did not report violence towards their mothers during childhood. Approximately two in ten Peruvian women reported having had IPV in the past year, and nearly half reported witnessing domestic violence against their mother as a child.

substance use and recidivism of intimate partner violence in Peru: A cross-sectional study

Background

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) carries significant global burden, with approximately 27% of women who have ever had a partner experiencing IPV. Additionally, substance use (alcohol and drugs) is often associated with aggressive attitudes and serves as a risk factor for IPV.

Objective

Determine the association between substance use and the recurrence of IPV in the Peruvian population in 2022.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using public data from the Ministry of Women, employing regression based on generalized linear models to calculate crude and adjusted Odds Ratios.

Results

A total of 65,290 cases of IPV were analyzed, the results revealed that 93.70% of the reports were cases of recidivism. A relationship was identified between substance use and IPV, with an Odds Ratio of 2.24 for the perpetrator's alcohol consumption and an Odds Ratio of 2.33 for drug use.

Conclusion

Based on these findings, it can be concluded that a relationship exists between substance use and IPV, and national strategies should incorporate proper monitoring after the initial report of violence, as well as effective control of substance use among perpetrators.

Women's Autonomy and Anemia in Children under Five Years of Age: A Peruvian Population-Based Survey

To determine the association between women's autonomy and the presence of childhood anemia in children under five years of age in Peru, a cross-sectional study utilizing data from the 2019 Demographic and Family Health Survey was carried out. The study employed generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution and log link function. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were calculated, along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI), to assess the association of interest. A total of 15,815 women and their children under five years of age were analyzed. The prevalence of childhood anemia was 30.4% (95%CI: 29.5-31.3%), while the proportions of low, moderate and high autonomy of the mothers were 44.5%, 38.4% and 17.1%, respectively. Children under five years of age of women with a low level of autonomy were more likely to have anemia (aPR: 1.10; 95%CI: 1.00-1.21). Three out of ten children under five years of age suffer from anemia, and four out of ten mothers have a low level of autonomy. A low level of women's autonomy was associated with a higher probability of anemia in children under 5 years of age.