Perceptions of Filipino Women and Men on Intimate Partner Violence

Wednesday, July 13, 2011: 9:10 AM

Perla Roque Ilagan, PhD, RN
College of Nursing and Health, Wright State University, Dayton, OH

Learning Objective 1: Gain knowledge of the meaning of intimate partner violence from the perceptions of Filipino women and men.

Learning Objective 2: Demonstrate an understanding of the influence of culture on intimate partner violence.

Purpose: The aim of this qualitative study was to obtain an in depth understanding of the meaning of intimate partner violence from the perceptions of Filipino men and women.

Methods:  A qualitative grounded theory design was used in this study. The sample consisted of 37 Filipino women and 2 Filipino men who were recruited from a Barangay Center (Health Center) in Manila, Philippines. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were open-ended, in-depth, and audiotaped. The description of the study participants was provided by the quantitative-descriptive data. Constant comparison method was used in categorizing the narrative data and in examining the data for examples of similar cases and themes.

Results: The narratives revealed a rich and contextualized overview that lay a foundation for understanding the perceptions and experiences of Filipino women and men living with intimate partner violence. The data point to recurrent themes of poverty, gambling, alcohol and drug use, poor communication skills, jealousy and philandering. Violation of the dignity of a person that brought with it children as victims was implicated in the cycle of violence. In addition, value formation was cited as an integral aspect of rehabilitation programs.

Conclusion: The qualitative data illustrate the complexity of intimate partner violence in Filipino homes. The need for education about spousal violence and the presence of a support system for protection, counseling and rehabilitation are prominent keys in reducing violence in Filipino homes. Furthermore, the Filipino culture must be considered to attain some measure of success.