Abstract
BackgroundViolence against women (VAW) is a vast public health problem in Latin America. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of violence against women and to assess its sociogeographical inequalities in Ecuador during 2019.MethodsThis cross-sectional study used data from a national survey conducted in 2019 (n = 17,211) among women aged 15 years and over. Independent variables included age, marital status, education, ethnicity, place of residence and region. The chosen outcomes were lifetime experience of total violence, sexual violence, physical violence, psychological violence and economic violence. Frequency tables were first calculated, and then crude and adjusted regression models estimating risk differences and their 95% confidence intervals were computed.ResultsNearly two-thirds (64.86%) of the participating women had experienced some form of violence during their lifetime, mainly psychological violence (56.92%). The second most prevalent type of violence was physical (35.44%) closely followed by sexual (32.67%). Almost one-fifth (16.38%) stated to have experienced some form of economic violence.Physical and psychological violence were more common among women aged 26–35 and less among older women. All forms of violence were more often reported among women with no education except for sexual violence, which was more frequent among those with higher education. Physical, psychological and economic violence were more often reported by those living with a partner, being married or divorced/separated. Sexual violence was associated with those belonging to a non-indigenous ethnic group, while all types of violence were more common among those living in an urban setting (except physical violence), in the Highlands or in the Amazon region.ConclusionsOur study showed that VAW is a common event in Ecuador and identified several sociogeographical inequalities that varied depending on the type of violence. VAW was more common among the younger age groups, those with low education, those living with a partner or being divorced/separated, or residing in an urban setting, in the Highlands or in the Amazon. Further studies including more social factors and a continuous monitoring of VAW are recommended. Current policies and laws to protect women need to be expanded and effectively implemented to reduce VAW in the Ecuador.
Highlights
Violence Against Women (VAW) is commonly defined as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” [1] The term is rooted in sexism, patriarchy and gender inequality and as such is pervasively exercised against women in three interconnected spheres: family, community and the state [2]
Description of the study sample Overall, 17,211 women participated in the study, the majority being between 15 and 25 years old (24.48%), followed by the 36–45 age group (17.71%)
The highest prevalence of any kind of violence was in the age group 26–35 years old (70.50%)
Summary
Violence Against Women (VAW) is commonly defined as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” [1] The term is rooted in sexism, patriarchy and gender inequality and as such is pervasively exercised against women in three interconnected spheres: family, community and the state [2]. Almost one-third (30%) of all women who have been in a relationship have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner [5]. Despite the recognized extension of the problem, studies focused on both partner and non-partner violence in Latin America are difficult to find. All countries had a widespread prevalence for IPV (physical and sexual) among women ever married or in a relationship, results varying between the ranges of 17 to 53.3% [6]. In the Dominican Republic, 20 and 10% of women over 15 years reported physical and sexual violence ever in their lifetime, respectively [8]; and in Peru, 39.5 and 19.7% of women referred to ever having experienced physical violence by a partner and a non-partner, respectively [9]. Violence against women (VAW) is a vast public health problem in Latin America. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of violence against women and to assess its sociogeographical inequalities in Ecuador during 2019
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