Citation

Caballero J, Alfaro M, Nuñez Y, Torres H. Revista Peruana de Epidemiologia 2009; 13(3): online.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Sociedad Peruana de Epidemiología)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the lifetime prevalence of psychological violence (PV) against women by an intimate partner in Peru from 2004 to 2007, and the associated demographic and socioeconomic factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study. We used the database of the National Health Survey conducted by the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics between 2004 and 2007. The design was stratified, multistage and independent for each region. The target population was women aged 15 to 49 who have or have had intimate partners. We analyzed the background and domestic violence sections from the questionnaire. We performed a descriptive analysis and calculated OR and 95% confidence intervals for potential risk factors by bivariate analysis. Results: The sample consisted of a total 13 724 women with a mean age of 33.7±8.2 years. 46.9% were living with a partner without marriage; 38.5% had only attended elementary school, 34.6% finished high school and 5.5% were illiterate. The lifetime prevalence of PV was 74.1%. Compared with married women, those separated or divorced had four times the risk of having suffered PV (OR 4.08; 95% CI 3.41-4.88). Those with only high school education had 29% higher risk of PV compared with those of higher education. Alcohol abuse by the male partner was associated with PV, increasing the risk by 66%. The central highlands region had a higher prevalence of PV. Conclusions: Peru has one of the highest life prevalences for PV against women by an intimate partner. The significant risk factors were educational level, marital status, alcohol abuse by the partner and history of a psychological violence between the parents of the victim.