1 in 5 Pinoys has suffered physical abuse since 15 years old - survey

MANILA, Philippines - One in five Filipino women under 50 years old have suffered physical abuse since the age of 15, a latest government survey released yesterday showed.

The 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), conducted by the National Statistics Office found that women with no education or only primary education were physically abused almost twice as much as those who were better educated.

The NSO survey also showed that nine percent of women had experienced “sexual violence,” often involving either a husband or a boyfriend.

The chance of experiencing sexual violence was also found greater for poorer women and those with less education, the survey indicated.

The survey, conducted from Aug. 7 to Sept. 27, 2008, used face-to-face interviews of 14,000 women 15 to 49 years old.

They were asked: “At any time in your life, as a child or as an adult, has anyone ever forced you in any way to perform any sexual acts against your will?”

The survey is the ninth in a series of demographic and health surveys conducted to assess the demographic and health situation in the country.           — Helen Flores