Trends in prevalence and correlates of intimate partner violence against women in Zimbabwe, 2005\u20132015

Jeanette Iman’Ishimwe Mukamana,Nicholas Kofi Adjei,Pamela Machakanja

doi:10.1186/s12914-019-0220-8

Abstract

BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread problem affecting all cultures and socioeconomic groups. This study explored the trends in prevalence and risk factors associated with IPV among Zimbabwean women of reproductive age (15–49 years) from 2005 to 2015.MethodsData from the 2005/2006, 2010/2011 and 2015 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) on 13,409 women (survey year: 2005/2006; n = 4081), (survey year: 2010/2011; n = 4411) and (survey year: 2015; n = 4917) were analyzed. Multiple logistic regressions and hierarchical modelling techniques were applied to examine the associations between demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, media exposure and IPV against women. We further estimated IPV prevalence by type (physical, sexual and emotional) over time.ResultsThe prevalence of IPV decreased from 45.2% in 2005 to 40.9% in 2010, and then increased to 43.1% in 2015. Some of the risk factors associated with IPV were younger age, low economic status, cohabitation and rural residence. Educational attainment of women was however not significantly associated with IPV.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that women of reproductive age are at high and increasing risk of physical and emotional violence. There is thus an urgent need for an integrated policy approach to address the rise of IPV related physical and emotional violence against women in Zimbabwe.

Highlights

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread problem affecting all cultures and socioeconomic groups
Prior research has demonstrated that women who are sexually and physically abused by their intimate partners have a high risk of developing physical and mental health problems including traumatic stress, injury, depression infectious diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and even death, compared to those not affected by IPV [7, 17,18,19]
Trends over time in the prevalence of intimate partner violence Table 1 presents the prevalence of IPV by sociodemographic characteristics, socioeconomic status (SES) and

Summary

Introduction

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a widespread problem affecting all cultures and socioeconomic groups. IPV is pervasive globally [2,3,4], affecting all cultures and socioeconomic groups [5, 6] This type of behavior can be perpetrated against men or women, evidence suggests that it is largely perpetrated by male partners against female partners of reproductive age [2, 7]. Prior research has demonstrated that women who are sexually and physically abused by their intimate partners have a high risk of developing physical and mental health problems including traumatic stress, injury, depression infectious diseases such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and even death, compared to those not affected by IPV [7, 17,18,19]

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