Survey on Violence Against Female Partners in Quebec, Canada

• NCJ Number: 206284
• Journal: Violence Against Women Volume: 10 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2004 Pages: 709-728
• Author(s): Maryse Rinfret-Raynor; Ariane Riou; Solance Cantin; Christine Drouin; Myriam Dube
• Date Published: July 2004
• Length: 20 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In order to determine the annual prevalence of violence perpetrated by male partners in couples that resided in Quebec, Canada, in 1998, a telephone survey of 2,120 women was conducted.

Abstract

The survey not only focused on the prevalence of intimate partner violence but also on the most immediate consequences of such violence on women's health, as well as the factors associated with violent behavior against female partners, using individual, family, and social variables from the 1998 Quebec Health and Social Survey (QHSS1998). The sample for the current survey was taken from participants in the QHSS1998, which surveyed 15,330 households. From this large sample, 5,955 households were randomly selected for participation in the intimate violence study. Criteria for eligibility were that the women had to be at least 18 years old and living in a heterosexual intimate relationship for a minimum of 2 months during the year preceding the study. A total of 2,742 households from the sample met these criteria. From this group, 2,120 women agreed to participate in the survey. The study found that approximately 110,000 (6 percent) Quebec women living in a heterosexual relationship had experienced violence from their partners over the past year, and almost 7 percent had experienced sexual violence. Rates of physical violence were significantly higher for women living in common law relationships compared with those who were married. Similar to other population surveys, this study confirmed that the probability of physical and sexual violence was greater for younger women, separated women, and women in poverty and precarious life conditions. Numerous emotional consequences were experienced by the women who experienced abuse. Certain characteristics of male partners were linked to violent behaviors against their female partners. These factors included domestic violence in the male partner's family of origin, drug and/or alcohol consumption, and the need to dominate and control the partner. Suggestions are offered for future research. 2 tables, 1 figure, and 30 references