Experiencing Domestic Violence and Help Seeking Behaviors in Myanmar

At the present time domestic violence is a problem of great magnitude around the world. The prevalence of domestic violence directly and indirectly affects health, livelihoods and opportunities of women in worldwide. The vast majority of violence against women is committed not only by a stranger but also by an intimate partner. One of the most pervasive forms of violence against women is intimate partner violence which is committed by a current or former intimate partner or husband, whether cohabitating or not. Since violence against women occurs in all societies, within the home or in the wider community and it affects women and girls disproportionately. This study endeavors to fill the gap by comprehensively analyzing how socioeconomic and demographic characteristics shape three aspects of domestic violence: experiencing physical, emotional and sexual violence. The study also highlights the relationship between the domestic violence and help seeking behaviors of women who are experienced the domestic violence. Data for ever women age (15-49) from the 2015-2016 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (MDHS) are analyzed using logistic regression analysis. This study shows that emotional and physical violence are associated with women’s education, wealth quintile, having children, States/Regions, husband’s education, and woman afraid of husband. Women’s experience sexual violence is related to States/Regions, residence, age difference and woman afraid of husband. Helping seeking behavior is correlated with types of violence, women’s age, wealth quintile, education, States/Regions, and residence. The results of this study could contribute to the government’s efforts to mainstream the gender dimension into the country’s development policies and programs