This study examined the prevalence and features of intimate partner violence (IPV) among 292 Latina women classified as born in the United States, as immigrants, or as migrant seasonal workers.
The study found high lifetime rates of IPV, with 33.9 percent of the women reporting physical violence, 20.9 percent reporting sexual coercion, and 82.5 percent reporting psychological aggression. Rates of violence in the preceding year were also high, with 18.5 percent experiencing physical violence, 14.4 percent experiencing sexual coercion, and 72.6 percent experiencing psychological aggression. Latina women born in the United States had a higher likelihood of reporting lifetime and past-year physical, sexual, and psychological IPV compared with immigrant women. Compared with women in the migrant seasonal worker group, those born in the United Stated had an increased likelihood of lifetime physical assault and lifetime psychological aggression. Women in the migrant seasonal worker group were more likely to report past-year sexual coercion than immigrant women. Being a younger age increased a woman's risk for physical victimization, and divorced or separated women were more likely to report physical violence and sexual violence than married women. Having a partner with a substance-use problem was strongly associated with physical violence and with more severe forms of psychological victimization. The study sample was recruited from Latina women who received services provided by a community health care system in San Diego County, CA, between January 1 and March 31, 2002. The women were required to be between 18 and 45 years old, of Latino ethnic background, have English or Spanish as their primary language, and be in a relationship with an intimate partner or had contact with a former intimate partner within the 12 months preceding the survey. Interviews were conducted in person in participants' homes or other locations that would ensure privacy and safety. 5 tables and 39 references