Researching Domestic Violence Against Women: Methodological and Ethical Considerations
Abstract
The results of three population‐based studies on violence against women in Nicaragua are compared in this article. Two of the studies were regional in scope (Leon and Managua) and focused specifically on women's experiences of violence, whereas the third study was a Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) conducted with a nationally representative sample of women. The lifetime prevalence estimates for women's undergoing physical violence from a partner were significantly higher in the Leon study (52 percent) and Managua study (69 percent), compared with that given in the DHS (28 percent). Possible explanations for the differences are examined through pooled multivariate logistic regression analysis, as well as analysis ofsix focus‐group discussions cairied out with field‐workers and staff from the three studies. The most important differences that were found concerned ethical and safety procedures and the interview setting. The results indicate that prevalence estimates for violence are highly sensitive to methodological factors, and that underreporting is a significant threat to validity.
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Research has shown that disclosure of partner violence is highly influenced by interviewer factors as well as privacy and context of the interview, factors that are more difficult to control in national surveys designed for other purposes.
“Research has shown that disclosure of partner violence is highly influenced by interviewer factors as well as privacy and context of the interview--factors that are more difficult to control in national surveys designed for other purposes [16,25,26].”
From What factors are associated with recent intimate partner violence? findings from the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence (2011) · cites this paper as [16]
Individual interviewer effects have a profound effect on level of disclosure of IPV.
“Standardisation is very important in a research field where even individual interviewer effects have a profound effect on level of disclosure[16].”
From What factors are associated with recent intimate partner violence? findings from the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence (2011) · cites this paper as [16]
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- Authors
- Ellsberg, M., Heise, L., Peña, R., Agurto, S., & Winkvist, A.
- Affiliations
- Umeå University (SE)
- Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (US)
- Universidad de León (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Ellsberg, Mary
- Venue
- Studies in Family Planning
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2001-03
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-16
- ISSN
- 0039-3665 (ISSN-L)
- 1728-4465
- OpenAlex
- W1976346059
- Cited by
- 619
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 36 · 2021: 41 · 2020: 41 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 30 · 2012: 31
- FWCI
- 12.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Studies in Family Planning (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- LSHTM Research Online (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Intimate Partner and Family Violence
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Gender, Violence, Rights in Latin America
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies
- Keywords
- domestic violence against women, physical intimate partner violence, lifetime prevalence, underreporting, survey methodology, research ethics, interview setting, Nicaragua, León, Managua, Demographic and Health Surveys
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Epidemiologic Methods, Ethics, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Middle Aged, Nicaragua, Surveys and Questionnaires, Bias, Prevalence, Logistic Models, Women's Health, Focus Groups, Domestic Violence
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