Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence of Spousal Violence and Associated Risk Factors: Facts from Pakistan Demographics and Health Survey 2012–13

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Family Violence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate the risk factors associated with the prevalence of spousal violence among the women from 15 to 49 years of age in Pakistan in their marital relationship. Secondary data collected in Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2012–2013 is used. In the survey, respondents were selected using probability sampling technique from all the four provinces of Pakistan. Modified and shortened version of Conflict Tactics Scale is used to measure physical and psychological spousal violence among the women perpetuated by their ever husbands. Prevalence of physical, psychological, any type of spousal violence and associated risk factors were analyzed by unadjusted odd ratios (OR) and adjusted odd ratios (aOR). Education, profession, ethnicity and wealth index are found significant risk factors associated with spousal violence. Odds of experiencing spousal violence were higher among the poorer (aOR 1.700 CI 1.272–2.271) as compared to their richer counterparts. Moreover, the prevalence of spousal violence was found the highest (aOR 2.730 CI 2.162–3.447) in Pushton ethnic group. The study recommends improving the literacy rate and economic well-being of the poorer to address the problem of spousal violence in Pakistan.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abo-Elfetoh, N. M., & El-Mawgod, M. M. A. (2015). Violence against wives: a silent suffering in northern Saudi community. The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association, 90(3), 87–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Akpinar, A. (2003). The honour/shame complex revisited: violence against women in the migration context. Women’s Studies International Forum, 26(5), 425–442 Pergamon.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ali, T. S., Asad, N., Mogren, I., & Krantz, G. (2011). Intimate partner violence in urban Pakistan: prevalence, frequency, and risk factors. International Journal of Women’s Health, 3(1), 105–115.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Antai, D. (2011). Controlling behavior, power relations within intimate relationships and intimate partner physical and sexual violence against women in Nigeria. BMC Public Health, 11(1), 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Archer, J. (2000). Sex differences in aggression between heterosexual partners: a meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 126(5), 651.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Azhar, N. (2011). Violence against women in Pakistan: a qualitative review of statistics for 2011. Annual Report. Aurat Foundation.

  • Babu, B. V., & Kar, S. K. (2009). Domestic violence against women in eastern India: a population-based study on prevalence and related issues. BMC Public Health, 9(1), 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benson, M. L., Fox, G. L., DeMaris, A., & Van Wyk, J. (2003). Neighborhood disadvantage, individual economic distress and violence against women in intimate relationships. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 19, 207–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bibi, S., Ashfaq, S., Shaikh, F., & Qureshi, P. M. A. (2014). Prevalenceinstigating factors and help seeking behavior of physical domestic violence among married women of HyderabadSindh. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, 30(1), 122.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Farid, M., Saleem, S., Karim, M. S., & Hatcher, J. (2008). Spousal abuse during pregnancy in Karachi, Pakistan. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 101(2), 141–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fikree, F. F., & Bhatti, L. I. (1999). Domestic violence and health of Pakistani women. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 65(2), 195–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fikree, F. F., Jafarey, S. N., Korejo, R., Afshan, A., & Durocher, J. M. (2006). Intimate partner violence before and during pregnancy: experiences of postpartum women in Karachi, Pakistan. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 56(6), 252–257.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fusco, R. A. (2010). Intimate partner violence in interracial couples: a comparison to white and ethnic minority monoracial couples. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 25, 1785–1800.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haj-Yahia, M. M. (2002). Beliefs of Jordanian women about wife-beating. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 26(4), 282–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haqqi, S., Faizi, A., & Haqqi, S. (2010). Prevalence of domestic violence and associated depression in married women at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5(2010), 1090–1097.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hines, D. A., & Saudino, K. J. (2003). Gender differences in psychological, physical, and sexual aggression among college students using the revised conflict Tactics scales. Violence and Victims, 18(2), 197–217.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hohmann-Marriott, B. E., & Amato, P. (2008). Relationship quality in interethnic marriages and cohabitations. Social Forces, 87, 825–855.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Human Rights Watch (2009). Violence against Women: World Report. Retrieved at http://www.hrw.com.

  • Human Rights Watch (2012). Violence against Women: World Report. Retrieved at http://www.hrw.com.

  • James, L., Brody, D., & Hamilton, Z. (2013). Risk factors for domestic violence during pregnancy: a meta-analytic review. Violence and Victims, 28(3), 359–380.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jeyaseelan, L., Kumar, S., Neelakantan, N., Peedicayil, A., Pillai, R., & Duvvury, N. (2007). Physical spousal violence against women in India: some risk factors. Journal of Biosocial Science, 39(05), 657–670.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kish, L. (1965). Survey sampling. New York: John Wiley and Sons Inc..

    Google Scholar 

  • Kivisto, A. J., & Watson, M. E. (2016). 12-month prevalence, trends, gender differences, and the impact of mental health services on intimate partner violence perpetration among discharged psychiatric inpatients. Journal of Family Violence, 31(3), 379–385.

  • Menjívar, C., & Salcido, O. (2002). Immigrant women and domestic violence: common experiences in different countries. Gender and Society, 16(6), 898–920.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nasrullah, M., Zakar, R., & Zakar, M. Z. (2014). Child marriage and its associations with controlling behaviors and spousal violence against adolescent and young women in Pakistan. Journal of Adolescent Health, 55(6), 804–809.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • National Institute of Population Studies and Macro International. (2013). Pakistan demographic and health survey 2012–13. Islamabad: National Institute of Population Studies and Macro International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Naved, R. T., & Persson, L. Å. (2005). Factors associated with spousal physical violence against women in Bangladesh. Studies in Family Planning, 36(4), 289–300.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raj, A., Livramento, K. N., Santana, M. C., Gupta, J., & Silverman, J. G. (2006). Victims of intimate partner violence more likely to report abuse from in-laws. Violence Against Women, 12(10), 936–949.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, L. E., & Christensen, A. (2005). Spousal agreement regarding relationship aggression on the conflict Tactics Scale-2. Psychological Assessment, 17(4), 423.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stockl, H., Devries, K., Rotstein, A., Abrahams, N., Campbell, J., Watts, C., & Moreno, C. (2013). The global prevalence of intimate partner homicide: a systematic review. Lancet, 382, 859.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Straus, M. (1990). Measuring intra-family conflict and violence: the conflict tactics (CT) scales. In M. A. Strauss, & R. J. Gelles (Eds.), Physical violence in American families: risk factors and adaptations to violence in 8145 families (pp. 29–47). New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.

  • Straus, M. A., & Douglas, E. M. (2004). A short form of the revised conflict Tactics scales, and typologies for severity and mutuality. Violence and Victims, 19(5), 507–520.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Uthman, O. A., Lawoko, S., & Moradi, T. (2009). Factors associated with attitudes towards intimate partner violence against women: a comparative analysis of 17 sub-Saharan countries. BMC International Health and Human Rights, 9(1), 1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Health Organization (2014). Violence against Women Retrieved at http://www.who.com.

  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2001). Putting women first: ethical and safety recommendations for research on domestic violence against women. Geneva: Department of Gender and Women’s Health, World Health Organization.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zakar, R., Zakar, M. Z., & Krämer, A. (2012). Voices of strength and struggle: Women’s coping strategies against spousal violence in Pakistan. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 27(16), 3268–3298.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zakar, R., Zakar, M. Z., & Kraemer, A. (2013). Men’s beliefs and attitudes toward intimate partner violence against women in Pakistan. Violence Against Women. doi:10.1177/1077801213478028.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ISCS, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

    Shabbir Hussain, Muhammad Usman, Maryam Sabir, Rubeena Zakar & Ahmed Usman

Authors
  1. Shabbir Hussain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muhammad Usman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maryam Sabir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rubeena Zakar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ahmed Usman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shabbir Hussain.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hussain, S., Usman, M., Sabir, M. et al. Prevalence of Spousal Violence and Associated Risk Factors: Facts from Pakistan Demographics and Health Survey 2012–13. J Fam Viol 32, 711–719 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-017-9915-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-017-9915-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation