Factors Associated With Physical and Sexual Violence Among Canadian Women Living With Physical Disabilities

Abstract

We examined victimization data from a Canadian survey of 1,095 women with disabilities to determine the following: a) Who experienced abuse, b) the forms of abuse, and c) the factors associated with abuse. A convenience sample of Canadian women (18 years +) completed a mailed survey. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample and types of abuse (physical, emotional, or sexual). Sequential logistic regression was used to determine factors related to physical and/or sexual violence. Those who reported cultural identities other than Canadian (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.12–3.32) were more likely to have reported experiencing physical and/or sexual violence, as were those with an annual household income less than $20,000 (OR = 3.21, 95% CI = 1.97–5.25) or between $20,000 and $49,999 (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.29–3.36). Women with two or more health conditions (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.93–5.32) and those who had some or most activities limited by pain were also more likely to report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.08–2.41). In contrast, women who had not received information about sexuality (OR = .68, 95% CI = .42–.96 and older women (OR = .46, 95% CI = .28–.73) were less likely to report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Our findings are important to public health professionals and practitioners in the detection and prevention of violence among women living with physical disabilities (WLD).