SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CORRELATES OF PERCEIVED PREVALENCE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG WOMEN IN DISTRICT CHINIOT
Keywords:
Domestic Violence; perceive prevalance; demographic correlate; District Chiniot; PakistanAbstract
This study explored how women themselves perceive domestic violence (DV) in their community, as such perceptions are crucial for awareness and protection programs but vary across social groups. Using a cross-sectional design, 120 women in District Chiniot,
Punjab, Pakistan were interviewed with a structured schedule. Seven socio-demographic factors - age, marital status, education, employment, income, residence, and family type - were tested against perceived prevalence, measured by a 7-item, 5-point Likert scale covering community prevalence, physical abuse, emotional/verbal abuse, economic control, under-reporting,
discouragement from speaking out, and tolerance to protect honor. The scale was reliable (Cronbach's α = .734). Women perceived DV as highly prevalent (M = 30.09, SD = 4.35, range 7-35), with emotional/verbal abuse (M = 4.52) and
social discouragement (M = 4.48) rated highest. Family type was significant on both tests, χ²(4)=11.857, p=.018,
Gamma=-0.460, p=.022. Age, employment, and income were significant on chi-square only, indicating non-monotonic patterns, while marital status, education, and residence were not significant. Homemakers, younger women, and
those in nuclear/joint families perceived the highest prevalence.
