Society’s Attitude Toward Spousal Physical Abuse: Findings from the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, 2022

Background: Societal attitude toward spousal physical abuse plays a crucial role in preventing violence against women. Yet, this public health issue has been insufficiently addressed. This study examines the relationship between the societal attitude toward spousal physical abuse and various social...

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Main Authors: Wah Wah Myint, Roaa Aggad, Qiping Fan, Chimuanya Osuji, Heather R. Clark, E. Lisako Jones McKyer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2024-04-01
Series:Women's Health Reports
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Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2024.0052
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author Wah Wah Myint
Roaa Aggad
Qiping Fan
Chimuanya Osuji
Heather R. Clark
E. Lisako Jones McKyer
author_facet Wah Wah Myint
Roaa Aggad
Qiping Fan
Chimuanya Osuji
Heather R. Clark
E. Lisako Jones McKyer
author_sort Wah Wah Myint
collection DOAJ
description Background: Societal attitude toward spousal physical abuse plays a crucial role in preventing violence against women. Yet, this public health issue has been insufficiently addressed. This study examines the relationship between the societal attitude toward spousal physical abuse and various social determinants. Methods: We used data from the 2022 Philippines’ National Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variable was attitude toward spousal physical abuse. Covariates included women’s sociodemographic characteristics, experiences of witnessing their father’s abusive behavior, intimate partner violence (IPV), and controlling behavior. Partner-related variables (age, educational level, employment status, and alcohol consumption behavior) were also considered. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associated factors of spousal physical abuse by using Stata 18.0. Results: Overall, 1,920 (9%) of 19,228 women reported that spousal physical abuse is justifiable in at least one of the presented scenarios. Women IPV survivors (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.06–1.73) and those who experienced controlling behavior by their partners (aOR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.45–2.15) were more likely to accept spousal physical abuse than their counterparts. Conversely, women with a higher decision-making score were less likely to accept spousal physical abuse than those who had a lower score (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.56–0.98). Conclusions: Finding suggests that women’s attitudes toward spousal physical abuse are significantly influenced by their experience of IPV. Future health research, programs, and policies should address individual, interpersonal, and systemic-level risk factors that profoundly impact women’s health.
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spelling doaj-art-b0e9da4d650141d595fb4b9de1e096752025-08-20T03:49:45ZengMary Ann LiebertWomen's Health Reports2688-48442024-04-015175576410.1089/whr.2024.0052Society’s Attitude Toward Spousal Physical Abuse: Findings from the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, 2022Wah Wah Myint0Roaa Aggad1Qiping Fan2Chimuanya Osuji3Heather R. Clark4E. Lisako Jones McKyerCenter for Community Health and Aging, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.Department of Family and Community Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, KSA.Department of Public Health Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA.Center for Community Health and Aging, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.Center for Community Health and Aging, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.Background: Societal attitude toward spousal physical abuse plays a crucial role in preventing violence against women. Yet, this public health issue has been insufficiently addressed. This study examines the relationship between the societal attitude toward spousal physical abuse and various social determinants. Methods: We used data from the 2022 Philippines’ National Demographic and Health Survey. The outcome variable was attitude toward spousal physical abuse. Covariates included women’s sociodemographic characteristics, experiences of witnessing their father’s abusive behavior, intimate partner violence (IPV), and controlling behavior. Partner-related variables (age, educational level, employment status, and alcohol consumption behavior) were also considered. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associated factors of spousal physical abuse by using Stata 18.0. Results: Overall, 1,920 (9%) of 19,228 women reported that spousal physical abuse is justifiable in at least one of the presented scenarios. Women IPV survivors (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.35, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 1.06–1.73) and those who experienced controlling behavior by their partners (aOR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.45–2.15) were more likely to accept spousal physical abuse than their counterparts. Conversely, women with a higher decision-making score were less likely to accept spousal physical abuse than those who had a lower score (aOR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.56–0.98). Conclusions: Finding suggests that women’s attitudes toward spousal physical abuse are significantly influenced by their experience of IPV. Future health research, programs, and policies should address individual, interpersonal, and systemic-level risk factors that profoundly impact women’s health.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2024.0052intimate partner violencespousal physical abusePhilippinessocial determinantshealth behavior
spellingShingle Wah Wah Myint
Roaa Aggad
Qiping Fan
Chimuanya Osuji
Heather R. Clark
E. Lisako Jones McKyer
Society’s Attitude Toward Spousal Physical Abuse: Findings from the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, 2022
Women's Health Reports
intimate partner violence
spousal physical abuse
Philippines
social determinants
health behavior
title Society’s Attitude Toward Spousal Physical Abuse: Findings from the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, 2022
title_full Society’s Attitude Toward Spousal Physical Abuse: Findings from the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, 2022
title_fullStr Society’s Attitude Toward Spousal Physical Abuse: Findings from the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, 2022
title_full_unstemmed Society’s Attitude Toward Spousal Physical Abuse: Findings from the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, 2022
title_short Society’s Attitude Toward Spousal Physical Abuse: Findings from the Philippines National Demographic and Health Survey, 2022
title_sort society s attitude toward spousal physical abuse findings from the philippines national demographic and health survey 2022
topic intimate partner violence
spousal physical abuse
Philippines
social determinants
health behavior
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/whr.2024.0052
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