Abstract

This study aims at estimating the prevalence of women suffering intimate partner violence (IPV) that report their aggressors, and at identifying the factors associated with reporting in eight indigenous regions of Mexico.The method employed was a secondary analysis of information gathered by the National Survey on Indigenous Women’s Health and Rights (2008). Data concerning women seeking medical care aged ≥14 who reported IPV (physical and/or sexual violence, n=25,807) was analyzed by using logistic regression models. Results: 21% suffered physical violence, 7% sexual violence and 13% reported both. 40% of women who suffered IPV (physical and/or sexual violence) report that their partners were the aggressors. Two multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the factors associated with reporting the partner. Physical violence model: female variables such as age (OR_A 1.05; p<0.00), years of schooling (OR_A 1.25, p<0.05), work outside the home (OR_A 2.38, p<0.05), severe physical violence (OR_A 2.85, p<0.05), and personal history of child abuse (OR_A 0.61, p<0.05) were the main predictors for reporting IPV. According to this model, women living in the Chinanteca, Costa y Sierra Sur and Maya regions have less possibilities of reporting than women living in the Mazahua-Otomi region (reference category) (OR_A 0.11, p<0.00; OR_A 0.15, p<0.00; OR_A 0.15,p<0.00; respectively). Sexual violence model: female variables such as age (OR_A 1.03; p<0.00) and severe sexual violence (OR_A 4.32, p<0.05), were the main predictors for reporting IPV. In the sexual violence model, women living in the Zongolica, Chinanteca and Costa y Sierra Sur regions have less possibilities of reporting than women living in the Mazahua-Otomi region (reference category) (OR_A 0.12, p<0.00; OR_A 0.10, p<0.00; OR_A 0.07, p<0.00; respectively).Conclusions: A high percentage of women reported IPV. Since the variable ‘region’ is one of the most significant variables, it is essential to deepen our knowledge of the differences in regional conditions.