Spousal Violence and Husband’s Alcohol Consumption 2008 NATIONAL

Percentage of ever‐married women age 15‐49 who have experienced DEMOGRAPHIC AND
violence committed by their husband by husband’s alcohol
Frequency of Spousal Violence in 12Months Prior to Survey consumption HEALTH SURVEY (NDHS)
54.3
Percentage of ever‐married women age 15‐49 (excluding widows) who
have experienced violence in the 12 months preceding the survey Physical violence 44.0
committed by their most recent husband by frequency of violence Sexual violence
Emotional violence
100%
7.9 25.1
90% 24.5 21.8
80% 18.0
Not at all 15.6 14.0
70% 51.3
60% 7.7 7.5 7.5
50% 4.7 4.7
54.1 Sometimes
40%
30%
Often Does not  Drink/never  Gets drunk  Gets drunk 
20% 40.8
drink gets drunk sometimes very orten
10% 21.4
0%
Emotional and/ Physical or sexual 
or economic abuse violence

BACKGROUND
Consequences of Spousal Violence
Percentage of ever‐married women age 15‐49 who have experienced The 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) is the ninth in
specific types of violence by types of consequences resulting from a series of demographic surveys conducted by the National Statistics Office
what their husband did to them every five years since 1968. The survey covered a nationally representative
67.7
65.3 Cuts, bruises,  sample of almost 14,000 households.
60.3 or aches
58.0
Eye injuries, sprains, 
dislocation, or burns The 2008 NDHS gathered information on population, family planning, and
Deep wounds, broken 
bones, broken teeth, …
health, particularly data on household characteristics and practices, health
35.4 Lost job/source  insurance coverage, prevalence of common non-communicable and
30.3 of income infectious diseases, health seeking behavior, utilization of health facilities,
Had depression, anxiety, 
anger, sleeplessness,.. fertility levels, fertility preferences, marriage and sexual activity, knowledge
13.5
8.4
12.8 13.6
9.9
13.8 Attempted to commit  and use of family planning methods, breastfeeding practices, childhood
5.7 6.0 suicide
Any of these consequences
mortality, maternal and child health, awareness and prevalence of
tuberculosis, knowledge on HIV/AIDS and HIV prevention, and extent of
Physical violence Sexual violence violence against women in the Philippines. These data are intended to
assist policy makers and program managers in evaluating and designing
programs and strategies for improving health and family planning services
in the country.
Reactions by Women to Violence
Among women age 15‐49 who have ever experienced The 2008 NDHS was conducted by the Philippine National Statistics Office
violence, percentage who fought back physically, fought back (NSO). Technical assistance was provided by ICF Macro through the
verbally or sought help from any source to stop violence MEASURE DHS program. Funding for the survey was mainly provided by
the Government of the Philippines. Financial support for some preparatory
24.6 and processing phases of the survey was provided by the U.S. Agency for
22.1 Fought back physically
International Development (USAID).
18.8
15.5
13.8 13.6
Fought back verbally For additional information on the 2008 National Demographic
and Health Survey:
Sought help from any 
email info@census.gov.ph or
visit www.census.gov.ph
source

Physical only Sexual only
 Physical Violence by Wealth Quintile

R
Percentage of married women age 15‐49 who have experienced physical
Experience of Physical/Sexual Violence Since Age 15 violence since age 15 and percentage who experienced physical violence
epublic Act 9262 or the “Anti-Violence Against during the 12 months preceding the survey by wealth quintile

Percentage of women age 15‐49 who have experienced physical or 28.5

Women and Their Children Act of 2004” is the sexual violence since age 15 25.8 Since age 15

country’s landmark law on domestic violence, which 20.1

19.8
17.3
In 12 months prior 
to survey
seeks to address the prevalence of violence against 11.9
women and children (VAWC), abuses on women and
10.1 9.7
7.5
6.1
their children by their intimate partners like husband or 4.2

8.7
ex-husband, live-in partner or ex-live in partner,
Lowest Second Middle Fourth Highest
boyfriend/girlfriend or ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend, and Note: Lowest wealth quintile represents the poorest women, while highest
dating partner or ex-dating partner. Violence against wealth quintile represent the wealthiest

women and children (VAWC), which is classified as a Physical violence Sexual violence

public crime, includes, but is not limited to physical

violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and
economic abuse. “Physical violence” refers to acts that
include bodily or physical harm. “Sexual violence”
refers to an act which is sexual in nature, committed
Physical Violence by Marital Status Types of Spousal Violence
Percentage of married women age 15‐49 who have experienced
physical violence since age 15 and percentage who experienced physical
Percentage of ever‐married women age 15‐49 who have
experienced specific forms of violence committed by their husband
violence during the 12 months preceding the survey by marital status

against a woman or her child. “Emotional violence” 36.5 22.6

refers to acts or omissions causing or likely to cause 22.3 14.4 15.3

mental or emotional suffering of the victim such as but

not limited to intimidation, harassment, stalking,
11.3 9.6 8.0
8.0 7.5
5.1 4.9
damage to property, public ridicule or humiliation,
repeated verbal abuse and marital infidelity. “Economic Never married Married or living 
together
Divorced/
separated/ Physical  Sexual  Emotional violence and/
abuse” refers to acts that make or attempt to make a widowed violence violence or economic abuse

woman financially dependent. Since age 15 In 12 months prior to survey Ever experienced In 12 months prior to survey

T
he 2008 National Demographic and Health
Survey (NDHS) collected information on
women’s experience of physical and sexual
violence, and seven other forms of violence,
Physical Violence by Education Forms of Spousal Physical Violence
Percentage of married women age 15‐49 who have experienced physical Percentage of ever‐married women age 15‐49 who
experienced physical violence committed by their husband
have
violence since age 15 and percentage who experienced physical violence
during the 12 months preceding the survey by education

including emotional violence using two sets of Any physical violence 14.4

26.7 7.5
26.3
Pushed, shook, threw something  8.2
questions. The first set of questions asked women about 21.7 at her 4.5
8.5
violence committed by their current husband or partner,
Slapped her
3.9
13.5 Twisted her harm or pulled her  3.6
if they were currently married, and by their most recent
12.9
hair 2.0
9.1 Ever 
8.6 Punched her with his fist or  4.7
husband or partner, if they were currently divorced,
Experienced
something that could hurt her 2.5
4.1
3.3
separated, or widowed. The second set asked all
Kicked, dragged or beat her up
1.8 Experienced in 
Tried to choke her or burn her on  2.0 12 months 
respondents whether they had ever, as a child or as an No education Elementary High school College purpose
Threatened or attacked her with 
1.0
2.3
prior to survey

adult, experienced violence. Since age 15 In 12 months prior to survey weapon 1.2