Wife abuse among women of childbearing age in Nicaragua

Authors

Mary Carroll Ellsberg, Umeå Universitet
Rodolfo Peña
Andrés Herrera
Jerker Liljestrand, Organisation Mondiale de la Santé
Anna Winkvist

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

1-1-1999

Journal

American Journal of Public Health

Volume

89

Issue

2

DOI

10.2105/AJPH.89.2.241

Abstract

Objectives. This study measured the prevalence, frequency, and severity of physical wife abuse and its risk factors in Leon, Nicaragua. Methods. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a representative sample of 488 women 15 to 49 years of age. Results. The lifetime prevalence of spousal violence was 52% among ever-married women (n=360). Spousal violence was significantly positively associated with poverty, parity, urban residence, and history of violence in the husband's family. No significant associations were found between spousal violence and women's age, education, marital dependency, or occupation. Conclusions. Wife abuse constitutes a major public health problem in Nicaragua, requiring urgent measures for prevention and treatment for victims.

APA Citation

Ellsberg, M., Peña, R., Herrera, A., Liljestrand, J., & Winkvist, A. (1999). Wife abuse among women of childbearing age in Nicaragua. American Journal of Public Health, 89 (2). http://dx.doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.89.2.241