UNDERSTANDING MALE PARTNER VIOLENCE AGAINST MARRIED WOMEN IN PAKISTAN: A PDHS STUDY

Abstract

The present study uses Pakistan Demographic Household Survey (PDHS 2017-18) to investigate the household factors associated with domestic violence; physical, emotional and psychological violence among ever married women in Pakistan, which are most prevalent in our society or community. We examine the personal characteristics of respondents and their partners; age, region, residence, number of children, education, employment and asset holding. According to descriptive analysis 36% women included in our sample belong to Punjab province. Regarding the area or type of residence 46% of women belong to rural area. Average age of wife is 30. Regarding education wives who have no education are 50%. As for as employment is concerned 86% of wives included in our sample are not employed. Average age of husband is 35 years. Regarding education 28% husbands have no education while 96% husbands are employed who are engaged in domestic violence against their wives.  Results of binomial logistic regression indicate that age and education of partners is negatively associated with domestic violence. As number of children increase domestic violence increase. Urban women face less physical violence and more emotional violence as compared to rural women. Furthermore, results show that women who belong to Punjab have less probability of domestic violence as compared to other regions. If women are employed and have asset holding, they face less physical violence by their husbands but still they face emotional and psychological violence. Results also show that employed husband commit less violence. It is recommended that better education and employment opportunities contribute to the family income, reduce the stress, quarrels and provide better ways to resolve the conflicts.