Partners' controlling behaviors and intimate partner sexual violence among married women in Uganda.

Stephen Ojiambo Wandera,Allen Kabagenyi,Betty Kwagala,Patricia Ndugga

doi:10.1186/s12889-015-1564-1

Stephen Ojiambo Wandera, Allen Kabagenyi + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-1564-1

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Journal: BMC public health	Publication Date: Mar 4, 2015
Citations: 67	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Makerere University

Abstract

BackgroundStudies on the association between partners’ controlling behaviors and intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) in Uganda are limited. The aim of this paper was to investigate the association between IPSV and partners’ controlling behaviors among married women in Uganda.MethodsWe used the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) data, and selected a weighted sample of 1,307 women who were in a union, out of those considered for the domestic violence module. We used chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regressions to investigate the factors associated with IPSV, including partners’ controlling behaviors.ResultsMore than a quarter (27%) of women who were in a union in Uganda reported IPSV. The odds of reporting IPSV were higher among women whose partners were jealous if they talked with other men (OR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.22-2.68), if their partners accused them of unfaithfulness (OR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.03-2.19) and if their partners did not permit them to meet with female friends (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.11-2.39). The odds of IPSV were also higher among women whose partners tried to limit contact with their family (OR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.11-2.67) and often got drunk (OR = 1.80; 95% CI: 1.15-2.81). Finally, women who were sometimes or often afraid of their partners (OR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.21-2.60 and OR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.04-2.40 respectively) were more likely to report IPSV.ConclusionIn Uganda, women’s socio-economic and demographic background and empowerment had no mitigating effect on IPSV in the face of their partners’ dysfunctional behaviors. Interventions addressing IPSV should place more emphasis on reducing partners’ controlling behaviors and the prevention of problem drinking.

Highlights

Studies on the association between partners’ controlling behaviors and intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) in Uganda are limited
We presented the results in the form of Odds Ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals
The odds of reporting IPSV were higher among women whose partners were jealous if they talked to other men (OR = 1.93; 95% CI: 1.28-2.90), did not permit the respondent to meet female friends (OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.03-2.27), and tried to limit her contact with

Summary

Introduction

Studies on the association between partners’ controlling behaviors and intimate partner sexual violence (IPSV) in Uganda are limited. Sexual violence in particular leads to negative psychological, behavioral, physical, and reproductive health outcomes [1,4]. These include a heightened risk of HIV and sexually transmitted infections [5,6], gynecological and sexual disorders, pregnancy complications, miscarriages and low birth weight [7]. Between 2006 and 2011, the percentage of Ugandan women who reported that they had ever experienced violence decreased from 39% to 28%. The percentage of women who reported that they had experienced sexual violence in the twelve months preceding the survey decreased from 25% to 16%. In Uganda, 55% of ever married women identified intimate partners (husbands or male partners) as the perpetrators of sexual violence [8,9]

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