Couple’s concordance or discordance of khat use and intimate partner violence (IPV) among Ethiopian women

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spousal discordance or concordance khat use and women’s experience of emotional abuse, physical, and sexual violence. Methods A cross-sectional data from Ethiopia’s Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS-2016 that included couple’s data (n=2734) was used. Results Overall, 21.2%, 95% CI (18.3, 24.4) were discordant khat users (either couple use) and 11.8%, 95% CI (8.9, 15.5) were concordant khat users (both). Among married/partnered women, 22.5%, 95% CI (19.8, 25.3), 22.3%, 95% CI (19.8, 24.9) and 9.6%, 95% CI (7.9, 11.7) reported to have ever experienced emotional abuse, physical abuse, or sexual abuse, respectively. Concordant couple’s khat use was significantly (OR=2.67, 95% CI (1.55, 4.61) associated with self-reported experience of physical violence by women. Conclusion In the context of widespread use of khat in Ethiopia, couples’ khat use may have a potential to be a risk factor for intimate partner violence. Efforts to reduce intimate partner violence in Ethiopia may benefit from incorporating strategies for reducing khat use and addiction.