Intimate Partner Violence In Africa Research Articles

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Association between Childhood Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence and Intimate Partner Violence Victimization/Perpetration in Adulthood in Africa.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is widespread in many African countries. Evidence, mainly from Western countries, shows that exposure to IPV in childhood is an important risk factor for experiences of IPV in adulthood. However, to date, no systematic review has synthesized the evidence on this association for individuals living in Africa, which is the goal of the current study. We used three search strategies: database searches (e.g., MEDLINE and PsycINFO), manual searches, and machine learning tools (e.g., Connected Papers). We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and included peer-reviewed studies (in French or English) that reported quantitative or qualitative associations between childhood exposure to IPV and later IPV victimization/perpetration. A total of 48 studies from 29 African countries were included (N = 520,000 participants). Pooled effects indicated an association between childhood exposure to IPV and IPV victimization for females (odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, 95% CI [2.09, 2.91], p < .001) and males (OR = 1.76, 95% CI [1.57, 1.97], p < .001). Similarly, males (OR = 1.92, 95% CI [1.60, 2.29], p < .001) and females (OR = 3.04, 95% CI [2.51, 3.69], p < .001) who were exposed to IPV in childhood were more likely to perpetrate IPV compared to those with no childhood exposure. Effect sizes varied substantially across studies (0.89-5.66), suggesting that other risk factors should be considered in future studies. This review provides unique insights on cycles of IPV in Africa that may usefully inform practice and research.

Multilevel analysis of intimate partner violence and associated factors among reproductive-age women: Kenya demographic and health survey 2022 data

IntroductionIntimate partner violence is a human rights violation that often involves violence against women, which appears to be the most prevalent type of abuse. Intimate partner violence is a major global public health issue that includes physical, emotional, and sexual violence. The prevalence of intimate partner violence in Africa is high. The burden of intimate partner violence among reproductive-age women is high in Kenya. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to determine the associated factors of intimate partner violence among reproductive-age women at the individual and community level from the recent Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2022 data of Kenya.MethodsThe Kenya National Demographic and Health Survey data of 2022 was used for this study. The overall sample size for this study was 14,612, which focused on women aged 15 to 49 years who had ever been partnered and responded to the domestic violence module. Multilevel logistic regression models to determine the prevalence and associated factors at the individual and community level with intimate partner violence with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) and Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR).ResultThe overall prevalence of intimate partner violence was 41.1% with a 95% CI (40.07%, 42.60. Male-headed households, poorest and middle wealth status, partner alcohol use, separated/widowed current marital status, and low education of women were statistically significantly associated with intimate partner violence at the individual level variables in this study.ConclusionsThe prevalence of intimate partner violence was high. Educating women, reducing partner alcohol use, and improving the economic status of women, were crucial in mitigating the burden of intimate partner violence. The intimate partners are supposed to respect the rights of women.

Prognostic factors of first intimate partner violence among ever-married women in Sub-Saharan Africa: Gompertz gamma shared frailty modeling.

Violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence, is a significant Concern for public health as well as a violation of the human rights of women especially in low and middle-income countries. However, there was limited evidence how soon an ever-married women experience intimate partner violence in Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the timing of first intimate partner violence (FIPV) among ever-married women in 30 SSA countries and to identify the risk factors of the timing. The present study has utilized 125,731 weighted samples, who participated in the domestic violence module of the survey from Demographic and Health Surveys of 30 SSA countries. The Gompertz gamma shared frailty model was fitted to determine the predictors. For model evaluation, the theta value, Akaike Information Criteria (AIC), Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC), and deviance were used. The Adjusted Hazard Ratio (AHR) with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported in the multivariable Gompertz gamma shared frailty model to highlight the strength and statistical significance of the associations. One-third (31.02%) of ever-married women had reported experiencing IPV. The overall incidence rate of FIPV was 57.68 persons per 1000 person-years (95% CI = 50.61-65.76). Age at marriage, age difference, educational status, employment, residence, women's decision-making autonomy, husband who drink alcohol and wealth status were significantly associated with the timing of FIPV. The findings show that ever-married women are at high and increasing risk of violence. Thus, we recommend establishing effective health and legal response services for IPV, strengthening laws governing the sale and purchase of alcohol, empowering women, raising the educational attainment of women, and putting policies in place to combat the culture of societal tolerance for IPV all contribute to the empowerment of women.

War and Intimate Partner Violence in Africa

This paper evaluates the impacts of armed conflict on intimate partner violence against women in Africa. Exploiting both spatial and temporal variations in the number of battles proxying for armed conflict intensity, we find that women residing in conflict-affected areas are prone to suffering intimate partner violence. In particular, a 1SD increase in the number of battles (equivalent to the increase by 4.8 battles) raises the composite indices of less severe violence, more severe violence, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse against women by 8.74%, 10.34%, 10.64%, and 7.14% relative to the sample averages, respectively. Given the long-term consequences of intimate partner violence, our findings call for expanding efforts in the prevention and mitigation of armed conflict.

Exploring intimate partner violence from the perspective of African men: A meta-synthesis

Abstract Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a complex social problem, a major global concern, and an obstacle to social and economic progress in the developing regions of the world, including Africa. Generally, IPV occurs in the private sphere of the family and poses serious risks to women, children, families, and the broader society. This study was prompted by the paucity of data to address the growing problem of IPV in Africa, particularly the narrow focus on women's experiences in the current state of knowledge. The aim of this meta-synthesis was to explore African men's perceptions of IPV in order to gain an in-depth understanding of their involvement in IPV. Our findings indicate that instances of IPV in Africa are primarily linked to masculine hegemony, masculine intersubjectivity, and masculine defenses of non-violent identity. Furthermore, we find that their intimate female partners are seen as both active and passive actors in IPV. Constantly oscillating between love and abuse, the relationship between African men and women is paradoxical. Moreover, authorities make it impossible for both victims/survivors and perpetrators to break the cycle of abuse by continuously sanctifying and or justifying IPV. One step towards reducing IPV between men and women in Africa, our study suggests, is to educate community leaders, policy makers, and service providers about prevention strategies, including how to make gender relations more equitable. There is, however, a need for more studies that could inform culturally effective interventions to tackle IPV, even as we attend to hegemonic masculine forces that tend to reinforce or legitimize IPV in Africa.

The prevalence of intimate partner violence in the family: a systematic review of the implications for adolescents in Africa

Intimate partner violence (IPV) and its multiple effects are well documented in Western research, but these are not adequately described in Africa. The effects of IPV on adolescent health and well-being are not conclusive. The aim of this review was to systematically appraise prevalence studies conducted on the African continent to establish the prevalence of IPV and the implications of exposure on adolescents in Africa. A comprehensive search was conducted in May 2012 for the previous 10 years, using databases such as Ebscohost (Medline, CINAHL, PsyArticles), Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), Project Muse and BioMed Central and also specific journals Lancet, and JSTOR. Two reviewers independently evaluated the methodological quality of the studies reviewed. Seven eligible epidemiological studies were included in this review. Five of the studies were conducted in South Africa, one in Liberia, and another was a multi-country study that included Egypt, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia. The prevalence of IPV in African countries ranged from approximately 26.5% to 48%. All studies reported exposure to family violence during childhood. The findings support the global burden of IPV. There is also a need for standardized tools to determine IPV in Africa and a clear definition that can be used in research to allow comparison with future IPV studies. In addition, the studies point to a need for interventions focusing on adolescents exposed to family violence.

Combating intimate partner violence in Africa: Opportunities and challenges in five African countries

Abstract Recent research results emerging from Africa show a worrying situation regarding the levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) in various countries in the continent — levels that are quite high and place great financial burden on individuals and governments. This paper explores the magnitude, nature, and risk factors of IPV in five African countries, namely, Morocco, Nigeria, Namibia, Uganda, and Tanzania. The focus of the paper is to explore issues of IPV in these countries by considering the opportunities in each country that could assist in the prevention of violence, and also to identify inherent challenges that may pose threats to efforts in reducing the high IPV prevalence. As there are only limited studies on IPV in developing countries, new insights provided by this paper would afford relevant stakeholders a better understanding of the issue.