Are women the main victims of violence within relationships? prevalence, type and frequency of intimate partner violence and aggression by sex in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: In the Caribbean, studies of intimate partner violence and aggression (IPVA) have rarely incorporated the experiences of men. In this study we compare the sexes in examining types, frequency and prevalence of IPVA. DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were from a population-based study of 15–30 year olds in Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2) were used to measure incidence levels of IPVA in the 12-months preceding the survey. IPVA was defined as the combination of three subscales physical violence, sexual coercion and psychological aggression. Physical injury was measured. RESULTS: Of 3,401 participants, more than half had experienced IPVA (53.0%), comprising physical violence (22.1%), sexual coercion (14.5%) and psychological aggression (43.5%). There were no significant differences by sex in IPVA or any contributing subscale. More women experienced injury (odds ratio 1.52; 95% confidence interval 1.07 - 2.15) and women experienced significantly greater frequency of physical violence. Physical violence and psychological aggression were lowest in Trinidad, and sexual coercion was highest in Jamaica with no other statistically significant country-level differences. CONCLUSION: Most of our results do not support the idea that women are the main victims of IPVA. Studies should examine a variety of potential risk factors beyond the sex of victims and perpetrators, as suggested by country differences, with further attention to IPVA frequency. Services should respond to the range of risks. Longitudinal studies and age group comparisons should identify whether these results signify shifts in gender relations within couples.