An analysis of victim's help-seeking behavior of domestic violence / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analysis the victim's help-seeking behavior of domestic violence. Methods Using a multi-stage sampling strategy,306 victims of domestic violence were randomly selected and face-to-face interviewed. A self-designed help-seeking questionnaire of domestic violence was administered. Results 33.7%victims felt nowhere to seek help. The three leading helpers they seek were the other family member (34.6%),neighbor and friend( 17.0% ) and community office ( 12.5% ) ,and the community office had highest prevalence of effect (71. 1% ). The prevalence of seeking help from other family member and Women's Federation were highest in urban victims (P＜0.01) ,and seeking help from community office was highest in rural victims (P＜0.01). The three leading helpers were other family member (27.3%) ,community office ( 15.8% ) and neighbor and friend ( 10.9% ) by male victims, and other family member ( 38.0% ), neighbor and friend ( 20.0% ) and community office ( 10.8% ) by female victims. The prevalence of seeking help from neighbor and friend was higher in female than in male ( 20.0% vs 10.9%, x2 = 3. 980, P＜ 0.05 ). Adult victims seek help from other family member were less than children and the elderly (31.6% vs 42.0% and 46.9%, x2 =5.993, P＜0.05),and the elderly seek help from community office were more than adults and children (28.1% vs 12. 1% and 4.0%, x2 =9.930, P＜0.01 ). The victims with higher level of education were with higher prevalence of feeling nowhere to seek help (47.8%). Seeking help from other family member and community office were most in victims with lower level of education( 38.5% and 24.0% ,respectively) and were least in victims with higher level of education ( 17.4% and 0,respectively, P ＜ 0.05, P ＜ 0. 01 ). Conclusion Help-seeking behaviors of victims of domestic violence are varied by geographic settings,age,gender and education levels.