This study used a grounded theory approach to primarily understand the processes Caviteña participants go through in order to arrive at a decision about how to optimize intimate relationships in the presence of abuse and also on how to generate a conceptual framework out of the interconnections of the concepts identified. Eleven participants were interviewed. Five core categories emerged namely: intimate partner violence (IPV), gender differences, processes, consequences and interventions. IPV from the perspective of Caviteñas can be constructed as an inner experience that affects many dimensions of a woman as a person. It causes pain that goes beyond what is physical and deeply penetrates an affected person's inner emotional core. It is a product of interplay among a multitude of factors and is a culprit of many physical and psychological health problems. It affects not just the woman and the perpetrator but also the children, the rest of the family's members, and the community as well. The conceptual framework challenges nurses to address the phenomenon through a holistic, integrated, multidisciplinary approach by taking into account the many layers of the victim's persona - physically, psychologically, emotionally and even economically.
Intimate Partner Violence ; Grounded Theory

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to describe patterns of IPV-associated ophthalmic injuries among women: Specifically, it seeks to identify factors associated with ophthalmic injuries in women secondary to IPV, determine practices and/or protocols in identifying IPV-associated ophthalmic injuries, and to examine practices in referral to ancillary services for IPV survivors with such injuries.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted for observational studies published from 2009 to 2022 using PubMed, Google Scholar, HERDIN, and the Cochrane Library. Studies were screened and appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale (NOS) for risk of bias. Relevant data on injury types, screening protocols, and referral practices were extracted and synthesized. Analysis of risk of bias (ROB) for each study utilizing the NOS scale indicated that four studies exhibited a good ROB.

RESULTS

A total of 567 female patients with IPV-related facial injuries were included in the selected studies. Of these, 98 cases (17.28%) involved ophthalmic injuries, including orbital fractures, subconjunctival hemorrhages, and contusions. Factors associated with these injuries included delayed healthcare-seeking behavior, bilateral and recurrent trauma, and psychological distress. Current practices in IPV identification were found to be inconsistent, with a lack of standardized screening protocols, especially in ophthalmology settings. Referral to ancillary services was often suboptimal due to poor interdepartmental coordination and absence of formal pathways.

CONCLUSION

There is a significant gap in the recognition and management of IPV-associated ophthalmic injuries among women. Establishing standardized screening protocols and improving referral systems can enhance care outcomes and provide holistic support for survivors, particularly in low-resource settings.

Human ; Female ; Intimate Partner Violence

Background: In the Philippines, 25% of ever-married women reported experiencing some form of violence from their partners but only 10% of them actually sought medical or legal help (NDHS, 2013). The objective of this study was to describe the type and severity of intimate partner violence experienced, and its association with formal help-seeking,among women aged 15-49 years in the Philippines. Methodology: The cross-sectional data used for this study came from the National Demographic and Health Survey of women aged 15-49 years old conducted in 2013. To estimate the association of interest, confounders were identified using the change-in-estimate criterion and were controlled by multiple logistic regression modelling. Results: Among women aged 15-49 years who experienced intimate partner violence, those who experienced all types of abuse had the highest proportion of formal help-seeking (7.3%), while women who experienced only sexual abuse had the lowest (0 out of 67). Controlling for the effect of other variables, women who experienced severe physical abuse were more likely to seek medical or legal assistance compared to those who experienced moderate physical abuse (OR=4.77; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.96 – 11.62). Conclusion Formal help-seeking rates were low among victims of intimate partner violence in the Philippines. The severity of the abuse experienced is likely an important factor in seeking medical and legal help. These systems should thus be capable of handling severe cases of abuse in order to address the needs of women who seek help. Efforts should be made to increase formal help-seeking among all victims of domestic violence.
Intimate Partner Violence ; Domestic Violence ; Physical Abuse

Humans ; Intimate Partner 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

Childhood exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) and other adversities has been shown to have adverse effects on health and well-being not only in childhood but also throughout the lifespan. This paper focuses on the prevalence of childhood adversities including exposure to IPV. The intersection of adverse childhood experiences and IPV victimization/perpetration in adulthood is also explored. The neurobiology of trauma is discussed and by understanding the impact of trauma on health, it is hoped that enhancement of resilience is possible. Based on the identification of protective factors at the individual, familial, and community level, examples of interventions that encourage safe, stable, and nurturing relationships between parents and children are described.
Child ; Hope ; Humans ; Intimate Partner Violence* ; Neurobiology ; Parents ; Prevalence ; Protective Factors

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the level of sexual assertiveness in women students in nursing and also, to investigate factors that influence sexual assertiveness. METHODS: In this study, 373 women students in nursing who were enrolled in a university in B city, Korea and who gave written consent completed the questionnaire between May 15 and May 30, 2016. Data were analyzed using t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression. RESULTS: The level of sexual assertiveness in the women students in nursing was 54.84±5.82. Sexual assertiveness showed negative correlations with gender role stereotypes (r=-.37, p<.001), and permissiveness of dating violence (r=-.15, p<.005), and a positive correlation with self-esteem (r=.36, p<.001). Models including the variables explained 18% of the variance for sexual assertiveness. Gender role stereotypes and self-esteem were the influential factors. CONCLUSION: Based on the outcomes of this study, it is necessary to design intervention programs that emphasize sexual assertiveness of women students in nursing.
Assertiveness* ; Female ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Intimate Partner Violence ; Korea ; Nursing* ; Permissiveness

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the association among sexual double standard, dating violence recognition, and sexual assertiveness among Korean university students. METHODS: Using a cross-sectional survey study in January 2018, Korean university students (N = 322, years; 54.3% female) completed structured questionnaires with the double standard scale, dating violence recognition index, and sexual assertiveness index. The relationship among the variables was analyzed with Pearson's correlations and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: There were significant correlations among sexual double standard, dating violence recognition, and sexual assertiveness. Sexual double standard (β = .12, p = .043) was determined to influence dating violence recognition. In addition, gender (β = .63, p < .001) and sexual double standard (β = .11, p = .015) were determined to influence dating violence recognition; the explanatory power was 43%. CONCLUSION: These findings will serve as a basis for the development of education programs that help university students to establish appropriate sexual values and enjoy a healthy sex life.
Assertiveness ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Humans ; Intimate Partner Violence ; Korea ; Reproductive Health ; Sexual Behavior ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Dating violence refers to violence occurring between people in an intimate relationship. Forms of dating violence are often categorized into physical, psychological, and sexual violence, and most existing literature has followed this frame. However, few studies have focused on the phenomenon of living under the perpetrator's coercive control in victims of dating violence, although those experiences are known to be signs of severe forms of violence later on. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of being coercively controlled in female victims who had experienced dating violence. METHODS: For this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 14 female victims, and all interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data were analyzed using the phenomenological analysis method suggested by Colaizzi. RESULTS: Three themes were derived in chronological order: idealizing the relationship (period of potential control), facing severer tyranny (period of coercive control), and escaping from the unending trap (period of post-control). The results showed that the victims experienced perpetrators' control with specific patterns. The perpetrators' controlling behaviors were invisible, literally benevolent, at the beginning; however, severe forms of violence seemed to appear as their relationship deepened and the perpetrators failed to control the victims. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study presented vivid experiences of female victims who needed help and care. Hopefully, the results can benefit in terms of developing evidence-based prevention strategies for victims as well as assessing the risks of severe forms of dating violence, such as physical attack or murder.
Crime Victims ; Female ; Homicide ; Humans ; Intimate Partner Violence ; Methods ; Physical Abuse ; Qualitative Research ; Sex Offenses ; United Nations ; Violence

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health problem and human rights concern that has an enormous impact on physical, mental, reproductive and socioeconomic aspects of health. Several health professional organizations recommend screening for violence though current screening rates tend to be low because healthcare providers are generally hesitant to be involved in dealing with women who are victims of violence.

OBJECTIVE: This study therefore attempted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of obstetricians and gynecologists on screening for intimate partner violence in a private tertiary hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Physician Readiness to Manage Intimate Partner Violence Survey (PREMIS) tool was utilized among 123 obstetricians and gynecologists in a private tertiary hospital in Pasig, Metro Manila, with a response rate of 65.8% (81/123).

RESULTS: Results showed that the sample participants did not have adequate knowledge on IPV; majority of the sample participants were not fully prepared and equipped to handle patients who are victims of IPV; and the sample participants did not routinely screen for IPV.

CONCLUSION: In the Philippines, the obstetricians and gynecologists generally act as the primary care physicians to the general female population. This provides them a good opportunity to be involved in the secondary prevention of IPV. Recognition of barriers to screening for IPV, development of strategies for increasing awareness to IPV, and education and training of physicians and allied health care professionals may improve the screening practices for IPV. These in turn will help them to provide appropriate, effective, and holistic care to their patients who are victims of violence. 

Human ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Spouse Abuse ; Public Health ; Secondary Prevention ; Philippines ; Violence ; Intimate Partner Violence ; Attitude ; Human Rights