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Sexual Assault Is the Biggest Risk Factor for Violence against Women in Taiwan—A Nationwide Population Cohort Study from 2000 to 2015

Author

Listed:
  • Miao-Ju Chwo

    (Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242062, Taiwan)

  • Shi-Hao Huang

    (Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology (Taipei Tech), Taipei 10608, Taiwan)

  • Yao-Ching Huang

    (Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, National Taipei University of Technology (Taipei Tech), Taipei 10608, Taiwan
    Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Iau-Jin Lin

    (Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Chia-Peng Yu

    (School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Chi-Hsiang Chung

    (Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Wu-Chien Chien

    (Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Taiwanese Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Association (TIPSPA), Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

  • Chien-An Sun

    (Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242062, Taiwan
    Big Data Center, College of Medicine, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 242062, Taiwan)

  • Gwo-Jang Wu

    (Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
    Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 11490, Taiwan)

Abstract

Objective: To understand the main types of risk of violence against women in Taiwan. Materials and methods: This study used the outpatient, emergency, and hospitalization data of 2 million people in the National Health Insurance sample from 2000 to 2015. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision diagnostic N-codes 995.5 (child abuse) and 995.8 (adult abuse) or E-codes E960–E969 (homicide and intentional injury by others) were defined as the case study for this study, and the risks of first violent injury for boys and girls (0–17 years old), adults (18–64 years old), and elders (over 65 years old) were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used for risk comparison. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The proportion of women (12–17.9 years old) who were sexually assaulted was 2.71 times that of women under the age of 12, and the risk of sexual assault for girls and adult women was 100 times that of men. Girls who were insured as labor insurance, farmers, members of water conservancy and fishery associations, low-income households, and community insured population (public insurance as the reference group) were significantly more likely to seek medical treatment from sexual assault than adult women. Among them, the risk was greatest for girls from low-income households (odds ratio = 10.74). Conclusion: Women are at higher risk of sexual assault than men regardless of whether they are children or adults, and the highest risk is for women in senior high schools, especially for girls from low-income households. Therefore, the protection of women’s personal autonomy is the direction that the government and people from all walks of life need to continue to strive for. Especially for high school students from low-income households, protection must be strengthened through education, social work, and police administration.

Suggested Citation

  • Miao-Ju Chwo & Shi-Hao Huang & Yao-Ching Huang & Iau-Jin Lin & Chia-Peng Yu & Chi-Hsiang Chung & Wu-Chien Chien & Chien-An Sun & Gwo-Jang Wu, 2022. "Sexual Assault Is the Biggest Risk Factor for Violence against Women in Taiwan—A Nationwide Population Cohort Study from 2000 to 2015," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-12, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:6:p:3473-:d:771699
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eyglo Runarsdottir & Edward Smith & Arsaell Arnarsson, 2019. "The Effects of Gender and Family Wealth on Sexual Abuse of Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-9, May.
    2. Mendelson, Tamar & Kubzansky, Laura D. & Datta, Geetanjali D. & Buka, Stephen L., 2008. "Relation of female gender and low socioeconomic status to internalizing symptoms among adolescents: A case of double jeopardy?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(6), pages 1284-1296, March.
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