A scoping review of measurement of violence against women and disability

Abstract

Introduction Existing evidence indicates that prevalence of violence against women with disability is elevated compared to women without disability. We conducted a scoping review with a focus on measurement to assess the forms of measurement and study design utilized to explore the intersection of violence against women with disabilities, and to identify strengths and limitations in current approaches to measuring violence against women with disabilities. This scoping review is designed to inform current debates and discussions regarding how to generate evidence concerning violence against women with disabilities. Methods and results We conducted systematic searches of the following databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, PILOTS, ERIC, Social Work Abstracts, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Social Services Abstracts, ProQuest Criminal Justice, and Dissertations & Theses Global, and conducted structured searches of national statistics and surveys and grey literature available on-line. We identified 174 manuscripts or reports for inclusion. n = 113 manuscripts or reports utilized acts-specific measurement of violence. In terms of measurement of disability, we found that amongst the included manuscripts and reports, n = 75 utilized measures of functioning limitations (n = 20 of these were Washington Group questions), n = 15 utilized a single question approach and n = 67 defined participants in the research as having a disability based on a diagnosis or self-report of a health condition or impairment. Discussion This scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of measurement of violence against women with disabilities and measurement of violence within disability-focused research. We identified several important gaps in the evidence, including lack of sex and disability disaggregation, limited evidence concerning adaptation of data collection methods to ensure accessibility of research activities for women with disabilities, and limited evidence concerning differential relationships between types of disability and violence exposure. This scoping review provides directions for sub-analyses of the included studies and further research to address gaps in evidence.

Perceptions and Experiences of Physical Violence Among Public Secondary School Students in Lagos State

“…Taif, Saudi Arabia. [6,35] Again, these differences may be attributed to the fact that the present study was carried out in public schools only, where sanctions are not too strict compared to the private and public school mix of Malaysian and Taif studies. In the present study, 70.9% of respondents had seriously considered suicide.…”

“…It includes the use of physical force which results in pain, discomfort or injury; hitting, pinching, hairpulling, arm-twisting, strangling, burning, stabbing, punching, pushing, slapping, beating, shoving, kicking, choking, biting, force-feeding, or any other rough treatment; threats with a weapon or object, and murder. [5,6] Worldwide, an estimated 200,000 homicides occur among youths aged 10-29 years each year. [1] Youth homicide rates vary dramatically between and within countries, and young males constitute both the majority of perpetrators and victims of homicide.…”

Prevalence of Functional Disabilities and Associations Among Disabilities, Violence, and HIV Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Lesotho

“…Persons with disabilities may represent a population at elevated risk of violence and HIV due to increased reliance on caregivers and barriers in communication and understanding of risk [ 1 ]. Stigma, structural and economic inequities, and lack of economic independence further increase their vulnerability to HIV, sexual risk behaviours, and violence [ 2 , 3 ]. Functional disabilities refer to difficulties in performing basic everyday tasks or more complex tasks; limitations in functioning may result from physical or mental impairments [ 4 ].…”

Intimate partner violence experienced by women living with—and without—disability in the European Union. A quantitative intersectional analysis

“…Living with a disability is associated with increased vulnerability (Hughes et al, 2012 ; Meyer et al, 2022 ), so increasing knowledge of the psychosocial and socio-cognitive factors that may be related to gender, culture, and biology is critical to understanding women's experiences (Patrao et al, 2015 ). Disability is highest among the lowest-income countries; it has a greater effect on the poorest quintile of the population: those who do not have a paid job, those with little educational training, the elderly, and women.…”