| [BACKGROUND] Violence against women is a universal phenomenon that persists in all countries of the world, and the perpetrators of that violence are often well known to their victims. Domestic violence against women has a far deeper impact than the immediate harm caused. It has devastating consequences for the women who experience it, and a traumatic effect on those who witness it. With the development of the economy in China, internal migration has been increasing since the 1980s. While the emergence of large scale migrants has made great contribution to the economy of the city and social development, it also has brought some new social problems. Among those social problems related to migrants, domestic violence has not been much concerned. Therefore, giving attention and exploring domestic violence among migrants will be of great important to improve reproductive health of migrant women, promote gender equality, and accelerate the harmoniousness and stabilization of the society in the context of constructing harmonious society in China.[OBJECTIVES] To study the prevalence of domestic violence against women among married migrant women of reproductive age in Shanghai, and to what extent that domestic violence is associated with a range of health outcomes and explore the influential factors of domestic violence.[METHODS] It is a cross-sectional survey conducted among married migrant women of reproductive aged 20-49 in Shanghai. In Hongkou District,2 sub-districts and 26 communities were selected through multiple-stage sampling method as study site. Survey was conducted from April to May in 2010. Information on subjects’ backgrounds, general health, sexual and reproductive health status, attitudes towards gender role and domestic violence, experience of domestic violence, injuries, and reactions were collected in the survey which took about 45 minutes.958 valid questionnaires were analyzed with SAS software 9.1 edition. Varied statistical methods including t test, ANOVA, chi-square test and logistic regression model were used in the analysis.[RESULTS]1. General information:The average age of the respondents was 35.4 years old, and the average marriage age was 23.0 years old. More than 80% of them had junior high school and lower education level. They, with a remarriage ratio of 1.3%, were mainly self-employed/private owners (44.6%). More than 2/3 of respondents who had worked outside their hometown more than 5 years, with an average of 10.3 years.2. Attitudes towards gender role and domestic violence:The attitudes towards gender role of the respondents were medium and traditional (39.1% and 30.1%). Most respondents agreed that the wife could refuse sex with husband in some particular conditions (79.3%～90.6%), and majoring of them also objected to physical abuse against women by the husband (79.6%-98.4%). But there were still some respondents who disapproved that the wife could refuse sex with their husbands (8.0%～17.1%), and agreed that the husband could beat his wife (0.5%～15.7%)。3. Experience of domestic violence:Domestic violence was relatively common among married migrant women with a overall prevalence of 40.0%. The prevalence of emotional violence was the most common (27.8%), followed by controlling behavior (17.5%) and physical violence (10.8%). The prevalence of sexual violence was the lowest (5.7%). But 19% of the respondents had experienced one or more domestic violence by husband within the past 12 months. The prevalence of emotional violence, physical violence, and sexual violence were 15.3%,5.7%, and 3.0%, respectively.4. Factors associated with domestic violence:Logistic regression models showed that respondents who had older age, high education, relatives in Shanghai, neighbor initiative to help when they had accident, a longer living period in the community, and no change in work in recent year were more likely to have a lower risk of domestic violence. And respondents who agreed that husband could have physical violence against wife, had poor control of economic assets, and had spouse who were frequently drinking, gambling, and fighting were more likely to experience domestic violence.5. Adverse consequences:Among those who had ever been physically abused by their husband,24.3% of them reported they had been injured, and 47.4% of them reported that husband’s physical violence had adverse outcomes on their physical and psychological health. Respondents who had ever experienced domestic violence were significantly more likely to report headaches, feeling body pain/discomfort, feeling nervous/fear/worry, irritability, crying more frequently, feeling worthless and tired of life than women who had never experienced domestic violence. In addition, respondents who had ever experienced physical or sexual violence were significantly more likely to report that they had more adverse pregnancy outcomes, symptoms of reproductive tract infections, gynecological diseases, lack of sexual desire, and sexual disharmony than women who had never experienced physical or sexual violence.6. Victims coping and help-seeking behavior: Among respondents who had ever experienced physical violence, about 47% of them had ever talked to others about their experience,38.9% of them had received actual help, and 73.8% of them would like others to help them when they had experienced physical violence by their husbands.[CONCLUSION] (1) Domestic violence was a relatively common phenomenon among married migrant women in Shanghai; (2) There were many factors associated with domestic violence. Prevention efforts on domestic violence should focus on the risk factors; (3) Respondents who had ever experienced domestic violence were significantly more likely to have the poor status of general health, mental health and sexual and reproductive health; (4) The proportion of women who had ever sought help after physical violence was low. Traditional attitudes that "Don’t wash your dirty linen in public", poor social support, and lack of awareness of social support in Shanghai were the main reasons that they didn’t seek help. |
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