Population Institute

ABSTRACT

This paper examined the help-seeking behavior of women who ever experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in the Philippines and those who experienced it in the last 12 months. Using the 2022 Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and applying hierarchical logistic regression modelling, it examined which among the need, enabling, and predisposing factors in Andersen’s model best influence woman’s help-seeking behavior. Results showed that majority of women sought help from informal sources than formal sources. All the need variables influence help-seeking behavior; experiencing severe violence, having abuse-related injury, and have a husband who drinks alcohol are predictors of seeking help. In addition, education, employment and exposure to parental IPV also explain the differences in help-seeking behavior. Women in the Philippines seem reluctant to seek help and will only do when they feel their lives are already at risk. A more inclusive campaign on violence against women is needed to encourage those who do not have a life-threatening situation to also seek help. Educating women and giving them jobs to obtain economic power could also influence them to seek help when they experience violence.