Violence against women in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

The spread of HIV in Papua New Guinea is influenced by the social and cultural context. This study has aimed to develop knowledge about the different forms of domestic violence experienced by PNG women and their HIV status, and to give women a voice by asking them about their experiences of violence and their recommendations for services and community responses for women experiencing violence. The study has used a mixed method approach to collect quantitative and qualitative data through structured interviews with a sample of 415 women who accessed antenatal and Voluntary Counselling and Testing services across four provinces of Papua New Guinea. Participants were asked about violence they had experienced in their relationships, and the impact of the violence on their lives. The quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, and the qualitative data were coded and themes identified using a grounded theory approach. Physical and emotional abuse in relationships were reported by 58% of women, financial abuse was reported by 47%, sexual abuse was reported by 44%, and social isolation by 38%. Women who reported violence in their relationships were, on average, 2 years older than women who said they had not been abused and were more likely to be HIV positive. Sexual abuse in relationships was strongly associated with HIV positive status. Level of school education, post-school education and paid employment were not found to influence the rates at which women reported domestic violence. Women spoke about the negative impact of violence on their lives. Women’s attitudes towards the violence included acceptance because of financial dependence on husbands and partners and cultural customs, such as payment of bride price and polygamy. Seventy-five percent of the sample had never accessed support services. Participants in the study called for changes to legislation to protect women’s rights, more informed responses to violence against women by police, strengthening of court responses to offenders, empowerment of women, employment opportunities to reduce financial dependence on men, and education of men in the need to care for women. There was also a strong recommendation for making community and counselling services available and accessible for women who are victims of violence. The study concludes that programs which are concerned with the prevention of HIV in PNG must include interventions to counter domestic violence and increasing the social status of women through greater access to education and employment.

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