Demographic and Health Survey 2009-10 - Timor-Leste Ministry of ...

242 | Domestic Violence
violence in the 12 months preceding the survey, and 17 percent of them experienced emotional
violence often (data not shown). Similarly, 91 percent of women who have ever experienced physical
or sexual violence by their current or most recent husband have experienced such violence in the 12
months preceding the survey, and 5 percent have experienced such violence often.
16.12 ONSET OF SPOUSAL VIOLENCE
To examine the timing of the onset of marital violence, the 2009-10 TLDHS asked
ever-married women who had experienced physical or sexual spousal violence when the first episode
of violence took place. Violence starts early in marriage in Timor-Leste, with 15 percent of
ever-married women reporting the onset of violence within two years of marriage. For about 5 percent
of the women who had experienced violence, the violence was initiated three to five years after
marriage (data not shown).
16.13 TYPES OF INJURIES TO WOMEN RESULTING FROM SPOUSAL VIOLENCE
In the 2009-10 TLDHS, women who ever experienced spousal physical violence—or sexual
violence—were asked about the physical consequences of the violence. Specifically, they were asked
if, as a consequence of what their spouse did to them, they ever had: a) cuts, bruises or aches; b) eye
injuries, sprains, dislocations, or burns; and c) deep wounds, broken bones, broken teeth, or any other
serious injury. Table 16.11 shows the percentage of ever-married women who reported any spousal
physical violence or sexual violence, by type of injuries sustained.
About one in five women who have ever experienced physical violence or sexual violence by
their current or most recent husband/partner received at least one of the injuries asked about. Cuts,
bruises, and aches are the most common injuries sustained by women for any type of violence. One
percent of women reported receiving deep wounds, broken bones, broken teeth, or other serious
injuries. A similar pattern is seen for women who experienced spousal violence in the past 12 months.
Table 16.11 Injuries to women due to spousal violence
Percentage of ever-married women age 15-49 who have experienced specific types of spousal violence by types of
injuries resulting from what their husband/partner did to them, according to the type of violence and whether they have
experienced the violence ever and in the 12 months preceding the survey, Timor-Leste 2009-10
Type of violence
Cuts, bruises,
or aches
Eye injuries,
sprains,
dislocations,
or burns
Deep wounds,
broken bones,
broken teeth,
or any other
serious injury
Any of
these
injuries
Number of
ever married
women
Experienced physical violence1 Ever2 18.7 4.4 1.0 19.8 656
In the past 12 months3 Experienced sexual violence
17.8 4.3 0.9 18.9 579
4
Ever2 (53.6) (18.2) (0.0) (56.2) 46
In the past 12 months3 Experienced physical or sexual violence
(59.8) (21.5) (0.0) (62.9) 39
4
Ever2 19.3 5.0 1.0 20.4 673
In the past 12 months3 18.8 5.1 0.9 19.8 596
Note: Husband/partner refers to the current husband/partner for currently married women and the most recent
husband/partner for divorced, separated, or widowed women. Figures in parentheses are based on 25-49 unweighted
cases.
1 Excludes women who experienced physical violence only during pregnancy
2 Includes in the past 12 months
3 Excludes widows
4 Excludes women whose sexual initiation was forced but who have not experienced any other form of physical or sexual
violence