Domestic violence among married women of reproductive age in Zimbabwe: a cross sectional study

Joseph Lasong,Kahindo P Muyayalo,Olivia Adhiambo Njiri,Chrissie S Abaidoo,Kai Zhao,Chun Yan Liu,Huiping Zhang,Yuan Zhang,Simon Afewerki Gebremedhin

doi:10.1186/s12889-020-8447-9

Abstract

BackgroundDomestic violence does not only violate women’s fundamental human rights but it also undermines them from achieving their fullest potential around the world. This study was conducted to assess trends and factors associated with domestic violence among married women of reproductive age in Zimbabwe.MethodThis was a cross-sectional study which used secondary data obtained from 2005/06, 2010/11 and 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Surveys (ZDHS). Respondents ranged from married or living with a partner (15–49 years). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with domestic violence.ResultsOut of 4472 women who were currently married, 1907 (42.7%) had ever experienced one form of domestic violence (physical, emotional and sexual violence). Women aged 40–49 was deemed a protective factor against domestic violence. Risk of domestic violence was higher among working women than unemployed women [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.047]. Women who drink alcohol significantly risk experiencing domestic violence compared to their non-drinking counterpart; also women whose husbands drink alcohol were at higher risk of experiencing domestic violence [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.001]. Domestic violence was higher among women whose husbands have ever experienced their fathers beating their mothers and significant for women whose husbands have more than one wife (polygamy) [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.001]. High parity (5 or more children) was also a risk factor for domestic violence among the studied population [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.038].ConclusionDomestic violence was found to be strongly associated with women whose husbands drink alcohol, products of abusive parents/father beating their mother and/or polygamous marriage (had more than one wife). Domestic violence still remains a challenge and a more biting policy efforts are needed to eradicate this public health canker in Zimbabwe.

Highlights

Domestic violence does violate women’s fundamental human rights but it undermines them from achieving their fullest potential around the world
Women who drink alcohol significantly risk experiencing domestic violence compared to their non-drinking counterpart; women whose husbands drink alcohol were at higher risk of experiencing domestic violence [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.001]
Domestic violence was higher among women whose husbands have ever experienced their fathers beating their mothers and significant for women whose husbands have more than one wife [AOR = 1.35; p ≤ 0.001]

Summary

Introduction

Domestic violence does violate women’s fundamental human rights but it undermines them from achieving their fullest potential around the world. Domestic violence is predominant in most of sub-Saharan Africa, with a total prevalence of 36% above the global average of 30% [3]. Zimbabwe enacted the domestic violence Act (Chapter 5:16) on 26th February, 2007. In the Zimbabwean setting, domestic violence has been defined as any act or omission or commission or behavior of a respondent in case it harms or injures or endangers the health, safety, life or well-being, whether mental or physical, of the aggrieved person or tends to do so and includes causing physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal and emotional abuse [4]

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Conclusion