Study of attitudes norms and behavior related to violence in Colombia. Violence against women: summary of findings.

This paper presents the results of a household survey conducted in six cities in Columbia during August-October 1996. The sample included 5827 individuals aged 15 years and above. Two-thirds of the sample were men and the remaining one-third were women (n = 2160). Results showed that 65.7% of all couples had had an argument in the past 12 months; 6% reported slapping their partners face and 5.8% reported hitting their partner with a hard object. Low-level education alcohol abuse and perceived norms and attitudes approving spouse violence appeared to be significantly related to the incidence of family violence. The age of the first child could predict the occurrence of physical abuse but it was far from reaching statistical significance. The ability of the partner to resolve conflict without violence and communication skills are important in avoiding domestic violence. Violence shown on television was considered to be a factor in the prevalence of domestic abuse but association between them was not established.