Intimate Partner Violence In Ethiopia Research Articles

Couple’s concordance or discordance of khat use and intimate partner violence (IPV) among Ethiopian women

ABSTRACT Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between spousal discordance or concordance khat use and women’s experience of emotional abuse, physical, and sexual violence. Methods A cross-sectional data from Ethiopia’s Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS-2016 that included couple’s data (n=2734) was used. Results Overall, 21.2%, 95% CI (18.3, 24.4) were discordant khat users (either couple use) and 11.8%, 95% CI (8.9, 15.5) were concordant khat users (both). Among married/partnered women, 22.5%, 95% CI (19.8, 25.3), 22.3%, 95% CI (19.8, 24.9) and 9.6%, 95% CI (7.9, 11.7) reported to have ever experienced emotional abuse, physical abuse, or sexual abuse, respectively. Concordant couple’s khat use was significantly (OR=2.67, 95% CI (1.55, 4.61) associated with self-reported experience of physical violence by women. Conclusion In the context of widespread use of khat in Ethiopia, couples’ khat use may have a potential to be a risk factor for intimate partner violence. Efforts to reduce intimate partner violence in Ethiopia may benefit from incorporating strategies for reducing khat use and addiction.

Individual and community-level risk factors of women\u2019s acceptance of intimate partner violence in Ethiopia: multilevel analysis of 2011 Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey

BackgroundThe prevalence of Intimate partner violence (IPV) is higher in societies with higher acceptance of norms that support IPV. In Ethiopia, the proportion of women’s acceptance of IPV was 69%, posing a central challenge in preventing IPV. The main objective of this study was to assess the individual and community-level factors associated with women’s acceptance of IPV.MethodsTwo-level mixed-effects logistic regression was applied to the 2011 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey data. A total of 16,366 women nested in the 596 clusters were included in the analysis.ResultsThe acceptability of the IPV was estimated to be 69%. Among the individual-level factors: women’s education with secondary and above (AOR = 0.38; 95% CI 0.29–0.52), partner’s education secondary and above (AOR = 0.71; 95% CI 0.54–0.82), women aged 35–49 years (AOR = 0.67; 95% CI 0.54–0.82), fully empowered in household level decision making (AOR = 0.67; 95% CI0.54–0.81), literate (AOR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.62–0.92), and perceived existence of law that prevents IPV (AOR = 0.56; 95% CI 0.50–0.63) were significantly associated with women’s acceptance of IPV. Similarly, rural residence (AOR = 1.93; 95% CI 1.53–2.43) and living in the State region (AOR = 2.37; 95% CI 1.81–3.10) were significantly associated with the women’s acceptance of IPV among the community-level factors.ConclusionBoth individual and community-level factors were significant risk factors for the acceptability of intimate partner violence. Women's education, women's age, women’s empowerment, partner education level, perceived existence of the law, and literacy were among individual factors. State region and residence were among community-level risk factors significantly associated women’s acceptance of IPV.

Mapping of Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence From a National Population Survey.

Evidence on the relative importance of geographical distribution and associated factors with intimate partner violence (IPV) can inform regional and national health programs on women's health. Four thousand seven hundred and twenty married women aged 15-49 years were interviewed in 2016 about IPV and this data was extracted from the Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey (EDHS) in 2020. The sample was selected by a two-staged cluster survey of women. The analysis was conducted using logistic regression that adjusted for clustering and sampling weights. Moreover, weighted proportions of IPV were exported to ArcGIS to conduct autocorrelations to assess the clustering of IPV. Amongst the 4469 married women who were 15 to 49 years of age included in the analysis, 34% (95% CI, 31.4%-36.3%) experienced IPV, 23.5% ( 95% CI, 21.5%-25.7%) experienced physical violence, 10.1% (95% CI, 8.7%- 11.7 %) experienced sexual violence and 24% (95% CI, 21.7%-26.4 %) experienced emotional violence. Partners' controlling behaviour [AOR: 3.94; 95% CI, 3.03- 5.12], partner's alcohol consumption [AOR: 2.59; 95% CI, 1.80- 3.71], partner educational qualifications [AOR: 2.16; 95% CI, 1.26- 3.71], a woman birthing more than five children [AOR: 1.70; 95% CI, 1.12- 2.56] and a history of the woman's father being physically violent towards her mother [AOR: 1.99; 95% CI, 1.52- 2.59] were associated with an increased risk of IPV amongst married women in Ethiopia. Western and Central Oromia, Western Amhara, Gambella and Central Tigray and Hararri were identified as hot spot areas in Ethiopia (p<0.001). In this study, there was a significant geographic clustering of IPV in Ethiopia. Controlling and drinking behaviour and partners' unemployment status were identified as important factors for married women experiencing IPV. Hence, there is a need for a context- driven evidence-based design intervention to reduce the impact of IPV.

Spatial distribution and determinants of intimate partner violence among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: Spatial and Multilevel analysis

BackgroundIntimate partner violence is a serious global public health problem particularly in low-and middle-income countries such as Ethiopia where women's empowerment is limited. Despite the high prevalence of intimate partner violence in Ethiopia, there is limited evidence on the spatial distribution and determinants of intimate partner violence among reproductive-age women. Exploring the spatial distribution of intimate partner violence is crucial to identify hotspot areas of intimate partner violence to design targeted health care interventions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution and determinants of intimate partner violence among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia.MethodsA secondary data analysis was done based on the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data. A total weighted sample of 6090 reproductive-age women were included in the study. The spatial scan statistical analysis was done to identify the significant hotspot areas of intimate partner violence. A multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was fitted to identify significant determinants of intimate partner violence. Deviance, Intra-cluster Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Median Odds Ratio, and Proportional Change in Variance (PCV) were used for model comparison as well as for checking model fitness. Variables with a p-value less than 0.2 were considered in the multivariable analysis. In the multivariable multilevel analysis, the Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were reported to declare statistical significance and strength of association between intimate partner violence and independent variables.ResultsThe spatial analysis revealed that the spatial distribution of intimate partner violence was significantly varied across the country (Moran’s I = 0.1007, p-value < 0.0001). The SaTScan analysis identified a total of 192 significant clusters, of these 181 were primary clusters located in the Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, northwest Amhara, and west Oromia regions. In the multivariable multilevel analysis; women aged 45–49 years (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI 1.52–5.10), women attained secondary education (AOR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.38–0.98), women in the richest household (AOR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.35–0.97), > 10 family size (AOR = 3.85, 95% CI 1.41–10.54), and high community women empowerment (AOR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.49–0.8)) were significantly associated with intimate partner violence.ConclusionsIntimate partner violence among reproductive-age women had significant spatial variation across the country. Women's age, education status, family size, community women empowerment, and wealth status were found significant determinants of intimate partner violence. Therefore, public health programs should design targeted interventions in identified hot spot areas to reduce the incidence of intimate partner violence. Besides, health programmers should scale up public health programs designed to enhance women's autonomy to reduce the incidence of intimate partner violence and its consequences.

Geographic variation and determinants of help seeking behaviour among married women subjected to intimate partner violence: evidence from national population survey

BackgroundHelp seeking behaviour amongst married women who experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has received limited attention in Africa. This study examines the geographic variation and investigates determinants of help seeking behaviour amongst married women in Ethiopia.MethodsThis study analysed data from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). Data was extracted for married women age 15–49 years old who experienced IPV. Factors associated with help seeking behaviour were identified using multiple logistic regression adjusted for clustering and weighing. The weighted proportion of factors associated with help seeking behaviour was exported to ArcGIS to conduct autocorrelation analysis.ResultsThe prevalence of help seeking behaviour among married women who experienced IPV was 19.8% (95% CI: 15.9–24.3%). Only 9.2% of them sought help from a formal source (such as police, lawyer or doctor). Multiple logistic regression analyses showed physical violence (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.76), educational attainment (AOR=2.1), a partner’s alcohol consumption (AOR=1.9), partner’s controlling behaviour (AOR= 2.4), partner’s employment status, (AOR= 1.9) and wealth index (AOR=2.8) were significantly associated factors with help seeking behaviour among married women who experienced IPV in Ethiopia (P< 0.05). Women in Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, Harari, Western and Eastern Amhara, and Afar had the lowest odds of help seeking behaviour (P< 0.001) after experiencing IPV.ConclusionThe findings of this study suggest that poor help seeking behaviour for married women experiencing IPV is a significant public health problem in Ethiopia. Multiple interrelated factors were associated with poor help seeking behaviour. These factors include women’s level of educational attainment, women experiencing physical violence, partners exhibiting controlling behaviour, partner’s alcohol consumption, the employment status of the partner, and wealth status of the household were important predictors of help seeking behaviour. Policies and interventions need to be tailored to address these factors to improve women’s health outcomes and to prevent IPV.

Women’s Household Decision-Making and Intimate Partner Violence in Ethiopia

Abstract Women’s household decision-making, a reflection of interpersonal power dynamics in intimate relationships is assumed to play a central role in eliminating violence against women. Thus we sought to examine the association between women’s household decision-making autonomy and the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among Ethiopian women. We used data gathered in the 2016 Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS-2016). We limited our study to ever-married women (aged: 15 - 49 years) who responded to the domestic violence questions (n = 4,469). Sampling weights were applied and effects associated with complex survey design were accounted for. Overall, 24%, 23.1%, and 10.1% of women have experienced emotional abuse, physical violence, or sexual violence, respectively in their lifetimes. The relationship between demographic variables and IPV were inconsistent and mostly non-significant. We found significant association between decision-making autonomy and IPV variables. Women who made decisions jointly with their husbands/partners had lower risk of domestic violence as compared to women with low level of household decision-making autonomy. No significant difference between women in the low and high level of decision-making groups. Egalitarian family power structures may be beneficial toward reducing IPV and achieving gender equality in Ethiopia.

Wife beating refusal among women of reproductive age in urban and rural Ethiopia

BackgroundWife beating is the most common and widespread form of intimate partner violence in Ethiopia. It results in countless severe health, socio-economic and psychological problems and has contributed to the violation of human rights including the liberty of women to enjoy conjugal life. The main purpose of this study is to assess the levels and patterns of wife beating refusal and its associated socio-cultural and demographic factors in rural and urban Ethiopia.MethodsThe 2011 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data based on 11,097 and 5287 women in the reproductive age group (i.e. 15–49 years) living in rural and urban areas, respectively,were used in this study. Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess the internal consistency of the measure of women’s attitudes towards wife beating. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was applied to analyze the data. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify variables that significantly predict respondents’ refusal of wife beating. Separate analysis by a place of residence was undertaken as attitude towards wife beating vary between rural and urban areas.ResultsThe likelihood of refusing wife beating in Ethiopia was significantly higher among urban women (54.2%) than rural women (24.5%). Although there was a significant variations in attitude towards refusing wife beating among different regions in Ethiopia, increasing educational level, high access to media, age of respondents were associated with high level of refusal of wife beating. In contrast, rural residence, being in marital union, high number of living children, being followers of some religions (Muslim followers in urban and Protestants in rural) were associated with low level of refusal of wife beating.ConclusionThe findings of this study reveal that wife beating in Ethiopia is a function of demographic and socio-cultural factors among which age and educational attainment of respondents, number of living children, religious affiliation, marital commitment and region of residence play significant roles. As factors governing perceptions and behaviours of individuals and institutional settings appear to shape knowledge and attitude towards gender equity and equality, awareness creation and behavioural change initiatives should be considered to abolish violence against women.

Women's Attitudes Toward Intimate Partner Violence in Ethiopia: The Role of Social Norms in the Interview Context.

This study draws on a social norms framework to examine the influence of interview context-specifically the presence of other women and men-on women's reported attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV) in Ethiopia, where IPV rates are among the highest in the world. The sample (16,515 women, ages 15-49) was taken from Ethiopia's 2011 Demographic and Health Survey. Results showed the odds of women "justifying" IPV to be nearly twice as great when other women were present during the interview, and nearly half in the presence of men. Implications for more sensitive interview methodology are discussed.

Early Marriage, Marital Relations and Intimate Partner Violence in Ethiopia

A considerable proportion of women worldwide are married during childhood. Although many studies have examined early marriage (before age 18), few have compared outcomes or correlates among girls married during different stages of adolescence or have focused on girls married very early (before age 15). Data from a population-based survey conducted in 2009-2010 in seven Ethiopian regions were used to examine early marriage among 1,671 women aged 20-24. Cross-tabulations and logistic regression were used to compare characteristics and contextual factors among girls married before age 15, at ages 15-17 or at ages 18-19 and to identify factors associated with selected marital outcomes. Seventeen percent of respondents had married before age 15 and 30% had married at ages 15-17. Most of those who married before age 18 had never been to school. Compared with young women who had married at ages 18-19, those married before age 15 were less likely to have known about the marriage beforehand (odds ratio, 0.2) and more likely to have experienced forced first marital sex (3.8). Educational attainment was positively associated with foreknowledge and wantedness of marriage and with high levels of marital discussions about fertility and reproductive health issues. Initiatives addressing the earliest child marriages should focus on girls who have left or never attended school. Given the vulnerability of girls married before age 15, programs should pay special attention to delaying very early marriages.

Towards a Global Interdisciplinary Evidence-Informed Practice: Intimate Partner Violence in the Ethiopian Context

Background. Intimate partner violence is a global health issue and is associated with a range of health problems for women. Nurses, as the largest health workforce globally, are well positioned to provide care for abused women. Objectives. This nursing-led interdisciplinary project was conducted to understand the current state of knowledge about intimate partner violence in Ethiopia and make recommendations for country-specific activities to improve response to intimate partner violence through practice changes, education, and research. Methods. The project involved two phases: review of relevant literature and an interdisciplinary stakeholder forum and a meeting with nurse educators. Findings. The literature review identified the pervasiveness and complexity of intimate partner violence and its sociocultural determinants in the Ethiopian context. Two significant themes emerged from the forum and the meeting: the value of bringing multiple disciplines together to address the complex issue of intimate partner violence and the need for health care professionals to better understand their roles and responsibilities in actively addressing intimate partner violence. Conclusions. Further research on the topic is needed, including studies of prevention and resilience and “best practices” for education and intervention. Interdisciplinary and international research networks can support local efforts to address and prevent intimate partner violence.