Abstract
BackgroundAttitudes towards intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) has been suggested as one of the prominent predictor of IPVAW. In this study, we take a step back from individual-level variables and examine relationship between societal-level measures and sex differences in attitudes towards IPVAW.MethodsWe used meta-analytic procedure to synthesize the results of most recent data sets available from Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa conducted between 2003 and 2007. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed for all countries. Test of heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression were also carried out.ResultsWomen were twice as likely to justify wife beating than men (pooled OR = 1.97; 95% CI 1.53- 2.53) with statistically significant heterogeneity. The magnitude in sex disparities in attitudes towards IPVAW increased with increasing percentage of men practicing polygamy in each country. Furthermore, magnitude in sex disparities in attitudes towards IPVAW decreased monotonically with increasing adult male and female literacy rate, gender development index, gross domestic product and human development index.ConclusionThis meta-analysis has provided evidence that women were more likely to justify IPVAW than men in sub-Saharan Africa. Our results revealed that country's socio-economic factors may be associated with sex differential in attitudes towards IPVAW.
Highlights
Attitudes towards intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) has been suggested as one of the prominent predictor of IPVAW
Except for Lesotho, Swaziland and Kenya, women were consistently more likely to justify IPVAW than men in most of the countries studied than men (Figure 1)
In the leave-one-country-out sensitivity analysis the confidence intervals (CI) did not change materially with exclusion of any of the countries, which remains within 95% confidence interval of the overall estimate for all countries (Figure 2)
Summary
Attitudes towards intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) has been suggested as one of the prominent predictor of IPVAW. Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is present in almost all societies [1,2] and is associated with considerable mortality [1,3]. IPVAW is integrally linked to ideas of male superiority over women[5]. These are manifest in different ways in different societies. Different factors influence the status of women and men in a society and influence these processes[6]. Meta-analysis: quantitative methods for research synthesis Oaks, CA: Sage publications; 1986. Health Services and Outcomes Research Methodology 2008, 8(2):114
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