Training Workshop for Field Staff
Survey module on
Violence against Women
Developed for
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Rev. 29 April 2011
1
I. Introduction to the Workshop
2
Goals of the workshop

To increase knowledge about gender
based discrimination and violence

To understand the goals and methods of
the Survey on Violence against Women

To develop interviewing skills

To become proficient in the use of the
survey questionnaire/module
3
Workshop
Program
[Two weeks long]
 Theory and practice, including field pilot
 Changes may be made to questionnaire
during the process

 Your
input is very valuable!
4
Field work
– immediately following the training!
5
Ground Rules
Regular attendance
 Be respectful
 Ask for help when you don’t understand
 Listen without judgement or criticism
 Be willing to challenge your beliefs
 Honor confidentiality
 No one is required to share more than
they want to

6
II. Sex and Gender
7
Defining Sex and Gender

Sex refers to the biological differences between
men and women. They are generally permanent
and universal.

Gender refers to the social relations between
men and women. It therefore refers not to men
or women but the relationship between them,
and the way this is socially constructed. Gender
roles can be changed.
8
III. Violence against women
9
What is violence against women?
“ any act of gender-based violence that results in,
or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or
psychological harm or suffering to women,
including threats of such acts, coercion or
arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether
occurring in public or private life".
(United Nations, 1993)
10
Violence against women includes:
partner abuse,
 sexual abuse of girls
 rape, including marital rape
 dowry related violence
 female genital mutilation
 trafficking in women
 forced prostitution
 sexual harassment at the workplace
 violence condoned or carried out by the state
(i.e. rape in war)

11
Definition of domestic violence

A pattern of assaultive and coercive
behaviors,

including physical, sexual and
psychological attacks, as well as economic
coercion,

used by adults or adolescents against
family members, most commonly against
their current or former intimate partners.
12
“So I take a blanket and I
spend the night with my
children out in the cold
because he is hitting me
too much. I have to take
the kids to stop him hitting
them too. I would go out in
the fields and sleep there
all night. I have done that
more than ten times…”
Woman interviewed in Peru
13
Common types of abusive behaviors
•
•
•
•
•
Physical abuse
Sexual abuse
Psychological abuse
Use of economics
Use of children to control an adult victim
14
Examples of physical abuse
Slapping
 Shaking
 Beating with fist or object
 Strangulation
 Burning
 Kicking
 Threats with knife or gun

15
Examples of sexual abuse
Coerced sex through threats or
intimidation
 Coerced sex through physical force
 Forcing unwanted sexual acts
 Forcing sex in front of others
 Forcing sex with others

16
Examples of psychological abuse








Isolation from others
Excessive jealousy
Control her activities
Verbal aggression
Intimidation through destruction of property
Harassment or stalking
Threats of violence
Constant belittling and humiliation
17
Examples of economic abuse
With-holding funds
 Spending family funds
 Making most financial decisions
 Not contributing financially to the family
 Controlling the victim’s access to health
care, employment, etc.

18
Examples of using children to control an
adult victim

Physical and sexual abuse of children

Hostage taking of children

Custody battles

Using children to monitor the adult victim
19
How common is physical or
sexual violence in women’s lives?
Prevalence of physical or sexual violence against women by
anyone (partners and others), since age 15 years
100
percentage
80
60
40
20
0
20
How common is partner violence?
● In most sites, 4 out of 5 women who have been
abused (by anybody: partners and others)
reported being abused by a partner.
● Between 15% (Japan) and 71% (Ethiopia) of everpartnered women experienced physical or sexual
violence by an intimate partner
Source WHO study 2005
21
Pregnancy is not necessarily a
protected time
“He hit me in the
● In most sites 4%-12% of women
belly and made me
who had been pregnant were
miscarry two babies
beaten during a pregnancy
- identical or
● In almost 100% of cases the abuser
fraternal twins, I
was the father of the unborn child
don’t know. I went
to the hospital with
● Between one-quarter to half of
heavy bleeding and
these women reported being
they cleaned me
punched or kicked in the stomach
up”
Woman interviewed
in Peru
Source WHO study 2005
22
Physical violence usually occurs together
with sexual and emotional violence

Globally, one-third to one-half of all
physically abused women also report
sexual violence

Almost all physically abused women also
experience severe emotional abuse
23
IV. Causes and Consequences of
Violence against Women
24
An ecological framework for
understanding violence
Society
Community
Relationship Individual
25
Violence is learned behavior
Boys growing up in families where
father is violent are more likely to
become perpetrators of partner
violence in their adulthood.
26
Domestic violence is learned behavior:
learned through observation
 learned through personal experience
 learned in culture
 learned in family,
 learned in communities, schools, friends,
etc.

27
It may be aggravated,
but not caused by







illness
heredity
alcohol and drugs
lack of self-control
economic problems
anger/stress
the victim’s behavior or problems in the
relationship
28
Violence against women is a product of
gender subordination
Four issues are consistently associated with
societies with high levels of domestic violence:
◦ norms of male entitlement/ownership of women
◦ male control of wealth in the family
◦ notions of masculinity tied to male
dominance/honor
◦ male control of decision making
29
Cultural differences in the meaning of
violence:

In large parts of the developing world, wife
beating is seen as a form of “correction” or
chastisement

Beating is acceptable as long as it is for “just
cause”

Acceptability depends on who does what to
whom, for what reason
30
Beating as discipline

“I think that if the wife is
guilty, the husband has the
right to hit her…If I have
done something
wrong…nobody should
defend me. But if I haven’t
done something wrong, I
have a right to be
defended.”
-- Indigenous woman, Mexico

“If it is a great mistake,
then the husband is
justified in beating his
wife. Why not? A
cow will not be
obedient without
beatings”
-- Rural man,
Tamil Nadu, India
31
Health Consequences of Abuse


Fatal Outcomes
◦
◦
◦
◦
homicide
suicide
maternal deaths
Aids related deaths
Non-fatal outcomes
◦
◦
◦
◦
physical
mental
injurious health behaviors
reproductive health

For example:
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
unwanted pregnancy
chronic pain syndromes
injury
depression
alcohol/drug use
STDs/HIV
Irritable bowel syndrome
gynecological disorders
32
Other consequences of violence
For women:





own health
financial status
ability to work
ability to function
participate in society
For children:






low birthweight
emotional well-being
behavioural difficulties
problems at school
injuries
leave home
33
Conclusion

Domestic and especially partner violence
against women affects many women around
the world -- with grave consequences for
them and their children
34
V. Support for women living with
violence
35
Many women internalize social
norms justifying abuse
“My husband slaps me, has
sex with me against my will
and I have to conform.
Before being interviewed I
didn't really think about this.
I thought this is only natural.
This is the way a husband
behaves.”
Woman interviewed in Bangladesh
36
Some of the barriers to leaving for domestic
violence victims

Fear for more violence

Fear for her children

Thinks it is normal/that he will change

Economic dependence

Family honor/not wanting to shame the family

Lack of safe alternatives

Lack of community/ family support

Women are overwhelmed from physical and
psychological trauma
37
Silence and stigma
Many women never talk
about domestic violence
with anybody
“I went to my mother first..... I told little by little.
Her reaction was ‘Didn’t we tell you?’ ‘You brought
this upon yourself, now you pay for it’, ‘There is the
child, what will you do? Where will you go?’ and so
on ....”
Woman interviewed in Turkey
38
Coping & retaliation






Women experiencing violence may utilise a range
of strategies to try to minimise or end violence
Actions to prevent or reduce violence include
leaving & retaliation
People may intervene to stop violence
When severe, may turn to formal and informal
sources of support
Different levels of satisfaction with response
May be others from whom would like to get
support
39
Domestic Violence Laws in [country]
 [to
be completed]
40
Resources for victims of violence in
[country]

[to be completed]
41
VI. Survey on VAW
Goals
 Study Structure
 Design
 Sample
 Main Themes

42
Study goals
To obtain reliable estimates for the main
indicators of violence against women
 To obtain an impression of the extent to which
violence is not reported to authorities

43
Required indicator outputs (core set) 1
1. Total and age-specific rate of women subject to physical
violence in the last 12 months by severity of violence,
relationship to perpetrator(s) and frequency
2. Total and age -specific rate of women subject to physical
violence during lifetime by severity of violence,
relationship to perpetrator(s) and frequency
3. Total and age-specific rate of women subject to sexual
violence in the last 12 months by severity of violence,
relationship to perpetrator(s) and frequency
4. Total and age-specific rate of women subject to sexual
violence during lifetime by severity of violence,
relationship to perpetrator(s) and frequency
44
Required indicator outputs (core set) 2
5. Total and age-specific rate of ever-partnered women
subject to sexual and/or physical violence by current or
former intimate partner in the last 12 months by
frequency
6. Total and age-specific rate of ever-partnered women
subject to sexual and/or physical violence by current or
former intimate partner during lifetime by frequency
7. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to
psychological violence in the past 12 months by the
intimate partner
8. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to
economic violence in the past 12 months by the intimate
partner
9. Total and age specific rate of women subjected to female
genital mutilation
45
Required classifications for the
indicators
 1-4: severity
(for physical violence)
 1-4: relationship to perpetrator
 1-6: frequency
Denominators
 1-4: all women
 5-8: ever-partnered
46
Criteria that were considered for
the VAW module
Set of indicators should be
addressed (as a minimum)
 Building on instruments that have
been well tested and validated
across cultures
 Enabling comparative results (also
with surveys already done)

47
Central project structure

[to be completed]
48
Study design







Household survey
Study population all women 15+
Not men for safety and practical reasons
Representative for whole country
Multi-stage sampling scheme
Interview one eligible woman per household
(randomly selected)
[other aspects]
49
Ethical considerations










Sensitivity of research topic
The survey uses a “safe name”
Individual consent / voluntary participation
Confidentiality
Physical safety of informants & researchers
Do no harm, respect women’s decisions & choices
Mechanisms to support researchers & field-workers
Avoid harmful publicity
Provision of crisis intervention
Findings used in advocacy, policy making & intervention
50
VII. Questionnaire Outline
51
Structure of VAW module
Questions on demographic characteristics
of respondent (besides age in particular
partnership status and partnership history)
 Questions on partner violence:
psychological, economic, physical, sexual
 Questions on violence by others since age
15: physical and sexual

52
SECTION ON
VIOLENCE BY PARTNERS
53
Intimate Partner violence:
2 sets of questions
A) Questions for current or most recent partner
 B) Questions for any other previous partner

◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
Acts of controlling behaviour
Acts of economic violence
Acts of emotional abuse
Acts of physical violence
Acts of sexual violence
54
Measurement of controlling
behaviour by partner







He tries to keep you from seeing your friends?
He tries to restrict contact with your family of
birth?
He insists on knowing where you are at all times?
He ignores you and treats you indifferently?
He gets angry if you speak with another man?
He is often suspicious that you are unfaithful?
He expects you to ask his permission before
seeking health care for yourself?
55
Measurement of economic abuse
by partner
He refuses to give you enough money for
household expenses, even when he has money for
other things?
 [other questions if applicable]

56
Measurement of emotional violence
by partner
Insulted you or made you feel bad about yourself?
 Belittled or humiliated you in front of other
people?
 Done things to scare or intimidate you on purpose
(e.g. by the way he looked at you, by yelling and
smashing things)?
 Verbally threatened to hurt you or someone you
care about?

57
Measurement of physical violence by partner
Slapped or threw something at that could hurt you?
 Pushed or shoved you or pulled your hair?

Hit with his fist or with anything else that could hurt
you?
 Kicked, dragged or beat you up?
 Choked or burnt you on purpose?
 Threatened with or actually used a gun, knife or
other weapon against you?

58
Measurement of sexual violence
by partner
Were you ever forced to have sexual
intercourse when you did not want to?
Did you ever have sexual intercourse you did
not want because you were afraid of what he
might do?
Ever force you to do something sexual that
you did not want or that you found degrading
or humiliating?
59
Reference period

For each of the acts of abuse or violence:
controlling behaviours, economic,
emotional, physical and sexual violence:
◦ past 12 months
◦ lifetime
60
Frequency

For acts of emotional, physical and sexual
violence, and for both past 12 months and
before past 12 months: Once, few, many times
In test module for events of physical and
sexual violence in the past 12 months:
 1) daily, weekly, monthly, less than 1/month
 2) estimated absolute count
61
Severity
For physical partner violence and sexual
partner violence:
◦ nature of act
◦ Injuries as direct effect of any physical or sexual
violence (asking for specific injuries)
◦ Miscarriage as direct effect
◦ Self reported impact on physical or mental
wellbeing
◦ Are you ever afraid of partner (never, sometimes,
many times, all the time)
Type of partner relationship

Partner violence questions are separately asked for
◦ current or most recent partner
◦ any previous partner(s)

Type of relationship with partner (married, living
together, dating) is collected for the previous
partners who were violent for each set of
controlling behaviours, emotional, physical and
sexual violence
63
Non reporting of violence

One question at the end -- referring to
any type of partner violence reported:
“Who have you told about your (previous)
partner’s behaviour?” (pre-coded list)
64
SECTION ON
VIOLENCE BY OTHERS THAN PARTNERS
65
Measurement of physical violence by
others than partners

Since the age of 15, has anyone ever hit, beaten, kicked
or done anything else to hurt you physically? Threw
something at you? Pushed you or pulled your hair?
Choked or burnt you on purpose? Threatened with or
actually used a gun, knife or other weapon against you?

PROBE:
◦ Anyone else?
◦ How about a relative? How about someone at school
or work? How about a friend or neighbour? A
stranger or anyone else?
66
Perpetrators, reference period
and severity
Pre-coded list of perpetrators
 For each of the perpetrators mentioned:
 How many times did this happen since you
were 15 y: once, few, many
 How many times did this happen in the past 12
months: once, few, many
 For the each of (max 3) most serious
perpetrators: 3 questions on injuries

67
1. Measurement of sexual violence by
others than partners – Rape
Since the age of 15, has anyone ever forced
you into sexual intercourse when you did
not want to for example by threatening you,
holding you down or putting you in a situation
that you could not say no. Remember to
include people you have known as well as
strangers. Please at this point exclude
attempts to force you.
 Who did this to you? (followed by probes)

68
2. Measurement of other forms of
sexual violence by others
Since the age of 15, has anyone attempted to
force you into a sexual act you did not want,
attempted to force you into sexual intercourse
(which did not take place), touched you sexually,
or did anything else sexually that you did not
want. Remember to include people you have
known as well as strangers.
 Who did this to you? (followed by probes)

69
Perpetrators and reference period
sexual violence (both sets)

Pre-coded list of perpetrators

For each of the perpetrators mentioned:
◦ How many times did this happen since you
were 15: once , few, many
◦ How many times did this happen in the past
12 months: once, few, many
70
VI. Interviewing Techniques
71
Introducing the study:
Dress appropriately
 Make a good first impression
 Have a positive approach
 Stress confidentiality
 Answer questions frankly
 Interview the respondent alone

72
Conducting the interview:
Be neutral
Never suggest answers
Do no change the wording or sequence
of questions
 Use tact with hesitant respondents
 Do not judge the woman
 Do not skip questions
 Do not hurry the interview
 Do not show questionnaire to anyone!



73
Questionnaire format principles
Lower cast  should be read out
 CAPITALS  should NOT be read out
 Numerical response codes(1, 2, 3,...) : only
one response allowed
 Alphabetical response codes (A, B, C...):
more than one response is allowed
 Questions should be asked as written
 Always put a mark for a question asked
 Follow skip patterns exactly

74
Accompanying materials
Question by question explanation of the
questionnaire
 Interviewer manual
 [birth dates table]
 [Dummy questionnaire]

[Supervisor manual]
 Code book, analysis plan

75
Field Procedures
Preparatory activities
 Contacting households

◦
◦
◦
◦

What is a household? In this study:
(1) usually living and eating together
[(2) visitors staying last 4 weeks]
[(3) domestic workers 5 nights/week]
Locating sample households
76
Problems in contacting households
Selected household moved, dwelling is
vacant
 Selected household moved, new
household in dwelling
 Dwelling number and name of head of
household do not match reality in field
 Selected household does not live in the
listed structure

77
Problems (continued)
Listing shows one household in dwelling,
but two are living there.
 The head of household has changed
 House is closed and family is away
temporarily (a few weeks)
 House is closed and no one lives there
 House is closed, family is out for the day

78
Introducing the study

“A survey on [use the safe name]”

Do not mention domestic violence in
initial contact
79
Problems contacting selected women
Selected woman not available
 Respondent refuses to be interviewed
 Interview not completed
 Respondent incapacitated
 Revisiting households

80
Informed consent
Confidentiality of study
 General purpose of study
 Some topics may be difficult to discuss
 Respondent may skip any question or
stop the interview at any point
 [Signature of interviewer]

81
Asking questions
Read exactly as written
 Do not suggest one response over
another
 Read questions in the order indicated
 Follow instructions on how to read
questions
 Do not emphasize one response choice
over another

82
More tips for asking questions

Probing
◦ For correctness
◦ For clarity
◦ Completeness
Don’t skip questions when not required
 “Don’t know”
 Refusal to answer a question
 Do not let woman read the questions
 Follow skips and filters

83
Recording the responses

Pre-coded responses
◦ One response possible
◦ Multiple responses possible
84
Safety and ethical issues
Sensitivity of research topic
 Individual consent and
voluntary participation
 Confidentiality
 Physical safety of respondent
 Respecting women’s decisions
 (Child abuse reporting)
 Provision of crisis intervention

85
Supporting women reporting violence

Your role as an interviewer is:
◦ To record women’s responses to questions
◦ Not to provide counseling or advice
86
Supporting women reporting violence

Responding to women becoming
distressed
◦ Take time to talk with kindness and sensitivity
◦ Be patient and composed
◦ Sympathetic comments, such as “I know this is
difficult”
◦ Offer tissue
◦ Offer to take a break or finish interview later
87
Supporting women reporting violence

Only terminate the interview:
◦ if woman states that she does not want to
continue
◦ If you feel that it would be highly detrimental
to continue
88
Supporting women reporting violence

Handling interruptions
◦ Explore ways to obtain privacy
◦ Re-schedule remaining section of interview
◦ Turn to “dummy” questions
89
“... I hardly could pull myself together not to cry. I
wanted to get out of the house as soon as
possible and cry out loud.... I hardly made it to
the car; as soon as I told my whole team they
all burst out in tears. The most painful thing for
me was not being able to do anything. At the
end I thought that this very research is about
hope, and I have done my part.”
(interviewer in Turkey)
90
Support for interviewers

Debriefing sessions with supervisors

Talk to supervisor or other members of
the team

Ask for counseling
91
Safety for interviewers
Locating a respondent in the evening
 Approaching a respondent
 Interruptions during interview
 Other precautions
 Work as a team

92
“Maybe I was mediating by listening to her for
half an hour, and it was worth the world when
at the end she thanks me and tells me she
felt worthy.”
(interviewer in Turkey)
93
Module and trainings materials developed by Henrica (Henriette) Jansen
(c) photos: Henrica Jansen
94