Domestic Violence in Urban Filipino Families

Abstract

The magnitude and characteristics of domestic violence in an urban community in the Philippines are described in this paper, using an ecological framework that tried to link individual, family and community factors. In particular, this study has sought to determine the prevalence of domestic violence and establish significant associations among identified risk factors and violence perpetrated by spouses in urban Filipino families. A random community survey was conducted among ever-partnered women aged 15–49 years and residing in selected barangays in Paco, Manila. The World SAFE (World Studies of Abuse in Family Environment) standardized instrument and field methods, translated and pre-tested in Tagalog, were used to collect the data. Information was gathered via interviews conducted by trained enumerators. The results indicate that 47.2 percent of the women respondents had experienced psychological and physical violence at the hands of their intimate partners during their lifetimes. Twenty-nine percent experienced domestic violence perpetrated by their current partners in the past year. Of the latter, about 31 percent suffered physical maltreatment and 68 percent experienced psychological abuse. The leading types of physical maltreatment were repeated slapping, kicking and beating, even during pregnancy. Major psychological abuse included insulting, belittling and use of threats. Recommendations have been made to strengthen current programs to assist women victims of domestic violence. Future research should focus on the evaluation of these interventions.

Keywords:

• Physical violence
• psychological violence
• domestic violence
• partner abuse
• Philippines
• urban