The National Study on Family Health and Safety in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) consisted of two separate components: a quantitative study based on the methodology developed for the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence against Women; and a qualitative study based on data collection methods of previous studies.

The study sought to obtain information about:

(1) The prevalence, frequency and types of violence against women, including physical and sexual violence, emotional abuse, and controlling behaviors by intimate partners; physical and sexual violence against women since they were 15 years old by non-partners; sexual abuse in childhood (before 15 years of age).

(2) The extent to which violence against women by a partner is associated with a range of health and other outcomes.

(3) Factors that may either protect from or put women at risk of violence by a partner.

(4) Coping strategies and services that women use to deal with domestic violence, as well as perceptions about domestic violence against women.