Intimate Partner Violence Among Women Deprived of Liberty, University Students, and the General Population: Prevalence and Sociodemographic Predictors
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Abstract
Intimate partner violence (IPV) constitutes a violation of human rights and a serious public health problem. In Brazil, studies comparing IPV across different groups of women, particularly those who are incarcerated, remain scarce. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of IPV victimization and perpetration and to identify associated risk factors among three population segments: incarcerated women, university students, and women from the general population. A cross-sectional design was applied to a non-probabilistic sample of 800 participants from various Brazilian states, aged from 18 to 74 (M = 30.45; SD = 10.73). Descriptive analyses, multiple linear regressions, and ANOVA analyses revealed significant differences in IPV prevalence across groups. High rates of psychological, physical, and sexual violence were reported both for victimization (31.0% to 73.4%) and perpetration (12.3% to 74.8%). Additionally, 72.1% of participants reported experiencing bidirectional violence. Incarcerated women were the most vulnerable group. Predictors included group membership, household income, educational level, substance use, and parenthood; however, these varied according to the type of violence, highlighting the multifactorial and complex nature of IPV. The results underscore the need for targeted public policies that address the specific characteristics of each population group.
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