Abstract

In Pakistan, Violence Against Women (VAW) is a serious problem and women from all socioeconomic backgrounds are subject to domestic abuse to varied degrees. Around 28% of ever married women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence and 6% experience sexual violence in Pakistan. The prevalence of domestic violence is highest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Violence Against Women is a global problem that has serious health consequences and is a major driver of illness and mortality. The objective of this study, therefore, to investigate the association between women’s education and economic status and their attitude towards domestic violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We used data from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. We used both bivariate and multivariate methods to examine how women’s education and household economic status shape their attitude toward acceptance of wife beating in KPK. Wife beating is used as a measure of domestic violence. The findings indicate that household economic position is one of the most critical factors influencing women’s acceptance of domestic violence. Forty percent of women belonging to low household economic status justify domestic violence. Women’s education is negatively associated with acceptance of wife beating. Domestic violence is becoming less acceptable as women’s education levels rise. This study also explores that how women’s education levels affect their attitudes about domestic abuse. Overall the findings demonstrate that majority of women accept wife beating and women’s education as well as household economic status are important variables in shaping women’s attitude towards domestic violence in KPK. The result of the study therefore asks for investment in women education as well as aggressive advocacy and awareness campaigns to discourage domestic violence in the province. It demonstrates that the majority of women accept wife beating. Furthermore, measures to address this issue include advocacy and awareness initiatives, as well as investments in women’s education.