Gender-Based Violence and Economic Autonomy: A Study on Its Prevalence Among Peruvian Women with and without Financial Independence

Cabezas Villarroel D.C.; Gamarra Choque P.M.; Chagua-Pariona N.C.; Pante Salas G.G.; Gonzales Loli M.R. · Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomedicas (2024)

Resumen

Introduction: Gender-based violence is a persistent issue that affects the overall health and psychological well-being of women. Although economic autonomy has been proposed as a potential protective factor against violence, the evidence on this relationship remains contradictory. Objective: To determine the relationship between gender-based violence and economic autonomy among Peruvian women with and without financial independence. Methods: This was a quantitative, correlational, non-experimental, cross-sectional study with a sample of 100 adult women. Data were collected using a questionnaire validated by expert judgment. Pearson’s correlation test was applied for analysis, with a significance level of 95%. Results: Of the women surveyed, 61% experienced some form of gender-based violence, with psychological violence being the most prevalent (90.2%), followed by physical violence (65.6%) and sexual violence (23%). Regarding economic autonomy, 59% of the women had no personal income. Among employed women, 61% reported experiencing gender-based violence, similar to the 63% of those without employment. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between economic autonomy and gender-based violence (p=0.862; r=-0.018), indicating that financial independence did not protect women from experiencing violence. Conclusions: There was no significant evidence that economic autonomy reduces the prevalence of gender-based violence. Both employed and unemployed women exhibited high levels of violence, highlighting the need for comprehensive interventions to enhance the health and psychological well-being of the participants.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal