Sosyal Bilimler ve Sağlık Bülteni

Özgün Makale

No. 14 (2025)

An Indirect Analysis: Tracing Sexual Violence Against Women in Turkey Through Demographic Health Survey 2003–2018.

Submitted
May 1, 2025
Published
2025-05-28

Abstract

This study aimed to examine women’s exposure to indirect sexual violence and the associated factors in Türkiye by conducting a secondary analysis of the Türkiye Demographic and Health Surveys (TDHS) from the years 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018.

Findings indicate that the proportion of women indirectly exposed to sexual violence decreased from 4.9% in 2003 to 1.9% in 2018. In 2003 and 2008, women with no formal education were found to have approximately 2 to 3 times higher likelihood of experiencing sexual violence compared to those with at least a high school education. In the years 2008, 2013, and 2018, each one-year increase in age was associated with a 10% decrease in the likelihood of experiencing sexual violence. In 2003, each additional child increased the odds of exposure to situations suggestive of sexual violence by 1.14 times; this association strengthened over the years, reaching approximately 1.5 times in 2018. The effect of wealth level on situations associated with sexual violence varied by year. In 2003, women in lower wealth categories appeared to have, on average, 1.5 times higher odds of experiencing sexual violence compared to those in the highest wealth group; however, this difference was not statistically significant in the fully adjusted model. No significant associations were identified in 2008 and 2013, while in 2018, within a model adjusted only for regional variables, women with low and middle wealth levels had significantly higher odds—3 times and 2.3 times, respectively—of experiencing situations indicative of sexual violence.

According to the study findings, the observed decrease over time in women's exposure to situations associated with indirect sexual violence in Türkiye is a positive and promising trend. Educational attainment and wealth level, in alignment with existing literature, emerged as key determinants of the likelihood of encountering sexual violence. Socio-demographic factors such as education level, age, number of children, and economic status play a significant role in exposure to situations related to sexual violence. These findings suggest that policies aimed at preventing sexual violence should focus on reducing socioeconomic inequalities. In particular, considering the positive association between the number of children and exposure to violence, the expansion of family planning services and enhanced access to education for women should be prioritized as critical intervention areas.

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