Background: Gender-based violence originates when societal gender-based expectations and the reality are not consistent. One such example is: there has been a recent rise in women's education in the Philippines, yet the prevalence of traditional female role expectations in the context of the heavily Catholic Filipino society remains unchanged. Objectives: In this paper, the relationship between women's education and their risk of gender-based violence (GBV) is examined and compared with the relationship between the education of their partners and the women's risk of experiencing GBV. Methodology: Our sample included women living in the Philippines surveyed by the Demographic Health Survey in 2017. We used multivariate logistic regression on the respondents' and the partner's education level, with respondent's risk of experiencing GBV. Results: We found that there was a slight but statistically significant decreased risk of GBV experience with increased years of education of both the female respondents and their male partners. For all female respondents, there was a 3.7% decrease in the risk of GBV per additional year of their own education. For those with partners, there was a 2.3% decrease in the risk of GBV per additional year of their partner's education. Conclusion We found that the education of male partners is as much of a factor as the women's own education in her likelihood of experiencing violence. From this, we established that partner selection based on their education levels may act as a protective factor for an individual's likelihood of experiencing GBV. Policy initiatives should address increasing male awareness of safe behavior and violence against women, especially while traditional gender roles are still predominant in the Filipino society.
Female ; Philippines ; Gender-Based ; Violence ; Marriage Violence ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health issue with profound physical, psychological, and social consequences. Despite legislative measures in the Philippines, there is limited research on the profile of IPV survivors consulting specialized healthcare units.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe the profile of female survivors of IPV consulting at the Philippine General Hospital Women’s Desk (PGH-WD), focusing on sociodemographic, psychological, relationship, community, and partner factors as contributors to their risk of experiencing IPV.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze data from IPV survivors who consulted the PGH-WD between January 2022 and December 2023. Data collection involved a chart review of eligible cases, guided by predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Inclusion criteria required that participants be female survivors of IPV aged 19 years and above, with consultations specifically related to IPV. Exclusion criteria included male survivors, non-Filipino nationals, individuals not residing in the Philippines, and charts missing key components. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze sociodemographic, psychological, relationship, community, and partner-related factors. Survivors were categorized into low-, moderate-, or high-risk groups based on the number of identified risk factors.

RESULTS

A total of 518 charts were reviewed, of which 106 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Survivors’ ages ranged from 19 to 74 years, with 46 (43.4%) aged 19–34. Most survivors belonged to lower socioeconomic strata, with 61 (57.5%) categorized as poor. Psychological distress was common, with 24 (22.6%) reporting depression and 22 (20.8%) having attempted suicide. Relationship factors included dissatisfaction in 91 cases (85.9%) and prior abuse by partners in 88 (83.0%). Community factors showed that 104 survivors (98.1%) were aware of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children (Anti-VAWC) law, and 101 (95.5%) reported having social support networks. Partner-related factors were less frequently reported, with 3 survivors (2.8%) indicating perpetrator substance use and 2 (1.9%) reporting histories of childhood abuse. Risk profiling categorized survivors into low-risk (39/106, 36.8%), moderate-risk (39/106, 36.8%), and high-risk (28/106, 26.4%) groups based on the number of identified risk factors.

CONCLUSION

This study provided a detailed profile of female IPV survivors consulting at the PGH-WD. Survivors were predominantly younger women from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, with high rates of psychological distress, relationship dissatisfaction, and histories of prior partner abuse. Community factors, including strong social support networks and awareness of the Anti-VAWC law, were identified as potential protective mechanisms post-IPV.

Human ; Female ; Intimate Partner Violence ; Mental Health ; Gender-based Violence

PURPOSE: This study aims to introduce a one semester 'Global Citizenship' program, being offered as a part of the premedical course at Gachon Medical School. The program was designed to meet the community needs in terms of etiquette and manner education for the future physicians and also to review the outcome of short-term experience. METHODS: The program was offered to M1(premedical students year-1) students from the first semester after entrance to the school with following objectives: to understand the anthropological aspect of culture, to motivate students in relation to medical scientific foundation, and to develop the appropriate human relations, including international etiquette and manners, prior to the subinternship in M5(medical student year-3). RESULTS: The program consisted of 12 sessions of lectures and/or practice-based learning such as etiquette for dormitory life, Korean traditional culture, gender role in the 21st century, dining etiquette in various cultural programs, netiquette(for computer usage), Korean housing and its architectural beauty, etiquette for alcoholic beverage drinking, dressing, and the respect and understanding of other cultures, services and manners. They were all instructed with presentations combined with site-visits or hands-on experience followed by a reflection paper and group discussion. Although the program was costly and time-consuming compared to the traditional theory-based natural science and humanity subjects, students expressed their strong motivation and concerns on their future responsibilities. CONCLUSION: We conclude that "Global Citizenship" course is a useful program to provide a meaningful motivation to the newly enrolled students, Further, it encourages students to understand human relations as a global citizen equipped with the appropriate etiquette and manners.
Alcoholic Beverages ; Bandages ; Beauty ; Drinking ; Education ; Gender Identity ; Housing ; Humans ; Learning ; Lectures ; Motivation ; Natural Science Disciplines ; Problem-Based Learning ; Schools, Medical